Smaller Citrus Harvest in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Ap 11/23 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States is down from last year because of a steep reduction in orange output, according to the USDA.

The current all orange forecast for the 2022-2023 season is 2.57 million tons, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 25% from the 2021- 2022 revised utilization

The United States 2022-2023 grapefruit crop is forecast at 336,000 tons, up 2% from the previous forecast but down 10% from last season's revised utilization. The California forecast, at 4.20 million boxes (168,000 tons), is down 2% from previous forecast but up 2% from the last seasons revised total.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 864,000 tons, down 4% from the previous forecast but up 17% from the last season's revised utilization. The California tangerine and mandarin forecast at 21.0 million boxes (840,000 tons) is down 5% from the previous forecast but up 20% from last season revised total.

The 2022-2023 United States lemon crop is forecast at 988,000 tons, up 5% from previous forecast but down 7% from last season's revised utilization. The California forecast, at 23.0 million boxes (920,000 tons), is up 5% from the previous forecast but down 9% from the revised 2021-2022 season. The Arizona forecast, at 1.70 million boxes (68,000 tons), is up 13% from the previous forecast and up 36% from the revised 2021-2022 season.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2021-2022 and
Forecasted April 1, 2023
[The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of
harvest the following year]
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                            :   Utilized production boxes 1/    :Utilized production ton equivalent
       Crop and State       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :    2021-2022    :    2022-2023    :    2021-2022    :    2022-2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :     ------ 1,000 boxes -----             ------ 1,000 tons -----
Oranges                     :
California, all ............:     39,100            45,100             1,564             1,804
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ..:     31,500            37,000             1,260             1,480
 Valencia ..................:      7,600             8,100               304               324
                            :
Florida, all ...............:     41,200            16,100             1,854               725
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ..:     18,250             6,100               821               275
 Valencia ..................:     22,950            10,000             1,033               450
                            :
Texas, all .................:        200             1,050                 8                45
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ..:        170               700                 7                30
 Valencia ..................:         30               350                 1                15
                            :
United States, all .........:     80,500            62,250             3,426             2,574
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ ..:     49,920            43,800             2,088             1,785
 Valencia ..................:     30,580            18,450             1,338               789
                            :
Grapefruit                  :
California .................:      4,100             4,200               164               168
Florida ....................:      3,330             1,700               142                72
Texas ......................:      1,700             2,400                68                96
                            :
United States ..............:      9,130             8,300               374               336
                            :
Tangerines and mandarins 3/ :
California .................:     17,500            21,000               700               840
Florida ....................:        750               500                36                24
                            :
United States ..............:     18,250            21,500               736               864
                            :
Lemons                      :
Arizona ....................:      1,250             1,700                50                68
California .................:     25,200            23,000             1,008               920
                            :
United States ..............:     26,450            24,700             1,058               988
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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/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties
   in Florida and Texas.
3/ Includes tangelos and tangors.