USDA Hikes Orange Estimate

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/16 - SNS -- The United States all orange forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 5.92 million tons, up 2% from the previous forecast but down 7% from the 2014-2015 final utilization, according to the latest USDA crop production estimate.

The Florida all orange forecast, at 81.5 million boxes (3.67 million tons), is up slightly from last month's forecast but down 16% from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 36.1 million boxes (1.63 million tons), unchanged from last month but down 24% from last season's final utilization.

The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 45.4 million boxes (2.04 million tons), is up slightly from last month but down 8% from last season's final utilization.

The California Valencia orange forecast is 10.5 million boxes (420,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but up 11% from last season's final utilization. The California Navel orange forecast is 44.0 million boxes (1.76 million tons), up 5% from the previous forecast and up 13% from last season's final utilization.

The Texas all orange forecast, at 1.70 million boxes (72,000 tons), is up 8% from the previous forecast and up 17% from last season's final utilization.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2014-2015 and
Forecasted July 1, 2016
[The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of harvest the
following year]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :     Utilized production boxes 1/      :  Utilized production ton equivalent
        Crop and State        :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016     :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :      ------- 1,000 boxes -------              ------- 1,000 tons ------
Oranges                       :
California, all ..............:       48,600              54,500              1,944               2,180
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ....:       39,100              44,000              1,564               1,760
 Valencia ....................:        9,500              10,500                380                 420
                              :
Florida, all .................:       96,950              81,500              4,363               3,668
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ....:       47,400              36,100              2,133               1,625
 Valencia ....................:       49,550              45,400              2,230               2,043
                              :
Texas, all ...................:        1,452               1,695                 62                  72
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ....:        1,170               1,355                 50                  58
 Valencia ....................:          282                 340                 12                  14
                              :
United States, all ...........:      147,002             137,695              6,369               5,920
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ....:       87,670              81,455              3,747               3,443
 Valencia ....................:       59,332              56,240              2,622               2,477
                              :
Grapefruit                    :
California ...................:        4,300               3,900                172                 156
Florida, all .................:       12,900              10,850                548                 461
 Red .........................:        9,650               8,350                410                 355
 White .......................:        3,250               2,500                138                 106
Texas ........................:        4,250               4,830                170                 193
                              :
United States ................:       21,450              19,580                890                 810
                              :
Tangerines and mandarins      :
Arizona 3/ 4/ ................:          170                (NA)                  7                (NA)
California 3/ ................:       18,500              22,000                740                 880
Florida ......................:        2,265               1,430                108                  68
                              :
United States ................:       20,935              23,430                855                 948
                              :
Lemons                        :
Arizona ......................:        2,000               1,550                 80                  62
California ...................:       20,600              21,800                824                 872
                              :
United States ................:       22,600              23,350                904                 934
                              :
Tangelos                      :
Florida ......................:          665                 390                 30                  18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
(X)  Not applicable.
1/   Net pounds per box: oranges in California-80, Florida-90, Texas-85; grapefruit in California-80,
     Florida-85, Texas-80; tangerines and mandarins in Arizona and California-80, Florida-95; lemons-80;
     tangelos-90.
2/   Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties in
     Florida and Texas. Small quantities of Temples in Florida.
3/   Includes tangelos and tangors.
4/   Estimates discontinued in 2015-2016.