General Jump in Citrus Output

WASHINGTON - Dec 11/18 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States is up significantly over last year, according to the latest USDA productin estimates.

Production of oranges forecast for the 2018-2019 season is 5.53 million tons, unchanged from last month but up 41% from the 2017-2018 final utilization.

The United States 2018-2019 grapefruit crop is forecast at 676,000 tons, unchanged from last month but up 31% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, expected production, at 6.40 million boxes (272,000 tons), is unchanged from last month but up 65% from last year. California and Texas grapefruit production forecasts were carried forward from the previous month.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 977,000 tons, unchanged from last month but up 22% from last season's final utilization. The Florida forecast, at 1.20 million boxes (57,000 tons), is unchanged from last month but up 60% from the previous year. The California tangerine and mandarin forecast was carried forward from the previous month.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2017-2018 and
Forecasted December 1, 2018
[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       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :    2017-2018    :    2018-2019    :    2017-2018    :    2018-2019
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :     ------ 1,000 boxes ------            ------ 1,000 tons -----
Oranges                     :
California, all 2/ .........:     45,400             49,000            1,816             1,960
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ..:     35,900             40,000            1,436             1,600
 Valencia ..................:      9,500              9,000              380               360
                            :
Florida, all ...............:     44,950             77,000            2,023             3,465
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ..:     18,950             32,000              853             1,440
 Valencia ..................:     26,000             45,000            1,170             2,025
                            :
Texas, all 2/ ..............:      1,880              2,400               80               103
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ..:      1,530              1,800               65                77
 Valencia ..................:        350                600               15                26
                            :
United States, all .........:     92,230            128,400            3,919             5,528
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ..:     56,380             73,800            2,354             3,117
 Valencia ..................:     35,850             54,600            1,565             2,411
                            :
Grapefruit                  :
California 2/ ..............:      4,000              3,900              160               156
Florida, all ...............:      3,880              6,400              165               272
 Red .......................:      3,180              5,300              135               225
 White .....................:        700              1,100               30                47
Texas 2/ ...................:      4,800              6,200              192               248
                            :
United States ..............:     12,680             16,500              517               676
                            :
Tangerines and mandarins 4/ :
California 2/ ..............:     19,200             23,000              768               920
Florida ....................:        750              1,200               36                57
                            :
United States ..............:     19,950             24,200              804               977
                            :
Lemons 2/                   :
Arizona ....................:      1,000              1,400               40                56
California .................:     21,200             20,000              848               800
                            :
United States ..............:     22,200             21,400              888               856
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 California-80, Florida-95; lemons-80.
2/ Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.
3/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties
   in Florida and Texas.
4/ Includes tangelos and tangors.