Reduced Citrus Output

WASHINGTON Oct 12/23 - SNS -- The United States expects smaller harvest of grapefruit, lemons and tangerines this year, according to the USDA's latest crop estimates.

The United States 2023-2024 grapefruit crop is forecast at 309,000 tons, down 6% from last season's final utilization. The California forecast, at 3.50 million boxes (140,000 tons), is down 13% from the last season. The Florida forecast, at 1.90 million boxes (81,000 tons), is up 5% from the last season. The Texas forecast at 2.20 million boxes (88,000 tons), is down 2% from the 2022-2023 season.

The 2023-2024 United States lemon crop is forecast at 980,000 tons, down 12% from last season's final utilization. The California forecast, at 23.0 million boxes (920,000 tons), is down 13% from the 2022-2023 season. The Arizona forecast, at 1.50 million boxes (60,000 tons), is up 7% from last year.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 944,000 tons, down 3% from last season's final utilization. The California tangerine and mandarin forecast, at 23.0 million boxes (920,000 tons), is down 3% from the previous year. The Florida tangerine and mandarin forecast, at 500,000 boxes (24,000 tons), is up 4% from last year.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2022-2023 and
Forecasted October 1, 2023
[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       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :    2022-2023    :    2023-2024    :    2022-2023    :    2023-2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            :     ------ 1,000 boxes -----             ------ 1,000 tons -----
Grapefruit                  :
California .................:      4,000             3,500               160               140
Florida, all ...............:      1,810             1,900                77                81
Texas ......................:      2,250             2,200                90                88
                            :
United States ..............:      8,060             7,600               327               309
                            :
Tangerines and mandarins 2/ :
California .................:     23,700            23,000               948               920
Florida ....................:        480               500                23                24
                            :
United States ..............:     24,180            23,500               971               944
                            :
Lemons                      :
Arizona ....................:      1,400             1,500                56                60
California .................:     26,500            23,000             1,060               920
                            :
United States ..............:     27,900            24,500             1,116               980
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Net pounds per box: grapefruit in California-80,
   Florida-85, Texas-80; tangerines and mandarins in California-80, Florida-95; lemons-80.
2/ Includes tangelos and tangors.