Latest News From Oranges

10 ways to use 10 pounds of Sunkist oranges
10 ways to use 10 pounds of Sunkist oranges

To help consumers make the most of its festively packaged 10-pound carton of navel oranges this holiday season, Sunkist is offering 10 recipes and tips for making fruit purchases go further. 

Fruit World ushers in California citrus season — and a sustainability milestone
Fruit World ushers in California citrus season — and a sustainability milestone

The company is celebrating the recent Equitable Food Initiative certification of its facility in Reedley, Calif., as its winter citrus program gets underway.

Sunkist touts summer citrus on TikTok
Sunkist touts summer citrus on TikTok

Sunkist Growers is using content on the social media platform, popular among millennial and Generation Z consumers, and its Sunkist Unlimited campaign to promote the in-season fruit as a versatile, affordable option.

Fresh Trends 2023: Orange consumption stays relatively steady
Fresh Trends 2023: Orange consumption stays relatively steady

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey indicated that 46% of all consumers purchased oranges last year.

Growers give outlook on summer citrus deal
Growers give outlook on summer citrus deal

A quality crop is expected despite earlier weather woes, though sizing could be affected in some cases.

Oranges
USDA’s March orange production estimate up slightly from February forecast

The USDA’s March all-orange forecast for the 2022-23 season is 2.62 million tons, up slightly from the previous forecast but down 25% from the 2021-22 final utilization. 

Cold front hits Florida citrus region, USDA reports
Cold front hits Florida citrus region, USDA reports

Temperatures cooled significantly in Florida’s citrus growing region last week, with average highs ranging from the low 60s to the low 70s, according to a USDA report.

U.S. citrus estimates drop after Hurricane Ian devastated Florida
U.S. citrus estimates drop after Hurricane Ian devastated Florida

Florida was a drag on U.S. citrus production in new estimates released by USDA on Oct. 12.

What about the orange consumer?
What about the orange consumer?

As a top-five fruit, shopkeepers should take great care when creating an orange offer.

orange-tree
California's navel crop up 19%, USDA projects

California’s navel orange production for the 2022-23 season is forecast at 1.52 million tons (38.0 million boxes), up 19% from last season, according to the USDA.

Oranges
USDA reveals details of big orange purchase

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has purchased 35,000 cartons of fresh oranges.

USDA looking for suppliers of fresh oranges for feeding programs
USDA looking for suppliers of fresh oranges for feeding programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is inviting citrus suppliers to compete to sell fresh oranges to government feeding programs.

California citrus output expected to dip
California citrus output expected to dip

The severe drought is contributing to what could be a decline in output for California citrus in 2021-22, industry leaders say.

Orange imports see an increase in 2021
Orange imports see an increase in 2021

Salix Fruits, the leading company in the import and export of fresh fruits, announced that the Southern Hemisphere’s orange season, which is about to end, will have a positive balance compared to 2020.

Limoneira Co. Announces Joint Venture with Wileman Bros. & Elliott Inc.
Limoneira Co. Announces Joint Venture with Wileman Bros. & Elliott Inc.

Limoneira Co. announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wileman Bros. & Elliott, Inc., to come together to sell their combined citrus volumes under the One World of Citrus Alliance.

Figs at the fore (and more) on PMG
Figs at the fore (and more) on PMG

There were more shake-ups on PMG the second week of July, with cucumbers moving up to No. 1 and beans climbing from No. 6 the previous week to No. 2.

It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20
It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20

Although things weren't all red, white and blue on PMG in the week leading up to the July Fourth holiday, seasonal favorites still stacked the top 20.

Sunkist expects strong consumer interest in citrus to continue
Sunkist expects strong consumer interest in citrus to continue

Citrus marketers have benefitted from great consumer interest during the COVID-19 pandemic and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon, Christina Ward thinks.

Citrus stacks PMG top 5

Strawberries enjoyed a third week in a row at No. 1 on PMG, while pummelos bumped oranges down to take the No. 2 spot, landing oranges at No. 3.

Artichokes, apricots vault into PMG top 20

Strawberries retained the No. 1 spot on PMG the week of Feb. 1, but apples rose from No. 8 the previous week to take the No. 2 slot.

Strawberries take the cake — or No. 1 — on PMG

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Amy Sowder
Top 4 kitchen gadgets for fresh produce

We haven’t had any opportunities to grab booth swag at in-person trade shows in almost a year, but there are a few produce gadgets I’ve held onto from shows in years past.

Tropical fruits and staple favorites rejoin PMG top 20

Pummelo, oranges and strawberries carried the top three spots on PMG for the third week in a row, while lettuce rose three places to No. 4, and apples gained four spots to complete the top 5.

Bee Sweet Heirloom Navels back in season

Grown under the close watch of the company’s citrus growers, Bee Sweet’s Heirloom Navels are now in season and will be available through the end of California’s citrus domestic season.

Morning Kiss Organic, DiSilva Fruit highlight citrus for Chinese New Year

 Morning Kiss Organic and DiSilva Fruit, part of the Arrowfarms family of companies, are shipping a variety of produce in time for Chinese New Year's celebrations.

Exports play important role for many citrus marketers
Exports play important role for many citrus marketers

Exports play a role in the marketing plans of many citrus grower-shippers, but that role can vary from company to company and season to season.

Garlic and grapes make a comeback in PMG top 20

Pummelos, oranges and strawberries maintained the top three spots on PMG the week of Jan. 11, but mandarins rose from No. 11 the previous week to No. 4, and cabbage, previously No. 12, moved up to the No. 5 spot.

‘Excellent’ quality ahead for California's citrus crops
‘Excellent’ quality ahead for California's citrus crops

Although USDA's NASS estimated that California’s navel orange crop will be about 42 million 80-pound boxes this season, some grower-shippers estimate that number might be a bit on the heavy side.

Ample supplies, increased interest set citrus up for a strong season
Ample supplies, increased interest set citrus up for a strong season

Consumers typically turn to citrus to load up on vitamin C during cold and flu season, but this year, suppliers hope they’ll stock up on even more grapefruit, oranges, mandarins and lemons to keep COVID-19 at bay.

Florida citrus growers vote to maintain marketing order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that fresh citrus producers voted to continue the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida.

Strawberries catch eyes on PMG

Pummelos and oranges maintained the top two spots on PMG the first week of January, but strawberries rejoined the list at No. 3.

Citrus rules PMG's top 20

Citrus surged in interest during the last few days of December, taking six of the top 20 spots.

Avocados take No. 1 on PMG

Avocados bounced from No. 7 the week of Nov. 30 to take the lead spot on PMG the week of Nov. 7.

Citrus interest big on PMG

Organic pears maintained the top spot on PMG the week of Nov. 30, but citrus showed strong interest overall, taking six of the top 20 spots.

Progressive Produce expands organic heirloom navel program

Los Angeles-based grower/packer/shipper Progressive Produce will see an expanded organic Heirloom Navel orange program towards the end of the year and into the first quarter of 2021.

Texas citrus weathers Hurricane Hanna with slight drops
Texas citrus weathers Hurricane Hanna with slight drops

Industry expectations for the Texas citrus crop estimate a smaller output than last year, primarily because of fruit damage from Hurricane Hanna in late July.

TerraFresh Organics starts Mexican citrus season

TerraFresh Organics, an organic fruit company supplying organic citrus, mangos, stone fruit and grapes to North America, is prepared for a solid organic Mexican citrus season.

Florida citrus growers optimistic about quality, demand
Florida citrus growers optimistic about quality, demand

Florida citrus production is projected to be slightly lower this season than last, but high demand is expected throughout the season.

Fresh-market tangerines harvesting in Florida

Florida’s citrus harvest in early November continued with navel and Hamlin oranges, red grapefruit and Fallglo and Early Pride tangerines, mostly for the fresh market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Oranfrizer joins the Unifrutti Group
Oranfrizer joins the Unifrutti Group

Sicily, Italy-based Oranfrizer is joining Unifrutti Group, Nicosia, Cyprus.

DiSilva Fruit, Morning Kiss Organic offer California citrus

DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic are ready to deliver delicious, vitamin-packed organic and conventional citrus for the coming citrus season.

Trio of University of Florida projects seek to beat citrus greening

The University of Florida has received federal grants nearly $4.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to fight citrus greening, aka huanglongbing/HLB.

Sumo Citrus mandarins from Suntreat Packing & Shipping Co. continue to gain popularity, says Dan Kass, vice president, import/export sales and marketing. Although Sumo Citrus has been marketed for more than 10 years, “It’s still a relatively new item in terms of penetration in the marketplace,” he say
Mandarin sales continue to climb

Mandarins have been taking market share from navel oranges for several years, grower-shippers say. But they may be helping the overall citrus category, said Casey Creamer.

Genome project brings citrus industry closer to stopping greening
Genome project brings citrus industry closer to stopping greening

Researchers from California and Florida reached a milestone in the in the search to develop a citrus greening-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a plant that’s closely related to citrus trees.

We plan to pick mid-October to the end of June,’ says Tracy Jones, chief operating officer and senior vice president of sales for Booth Ranches LLC of the company’s navel oranges.
Navel crop ready to kick off

Volume of California’s 2020-21 navel orange crop is forecast to be down slightly from last year, while quality and fruit size should be good, said Casey Creamer, president of Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual.

Orange output down, USDA says

With Florida groves showing the biggest declines, the 2020-21 U.S. orange crop is forecast 11% lower, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first crop production report. 

South Africa citrus exports enjoy record year
South Africa citrus exports enjoy record year

Total South Africa citrus exports will reach record levels in 2020 and exports to the U.S. also are setting new highs.

District 3 citrus season begins for Veg-Fresh Farms

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., is starting its winter citrus season.

Summer Citrus from South Africa sponsors Fresh Summit reception

The borders may remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Summer Citrus from South Africa is able to participate in the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit Oct. 13-15.

Fruit World starts citrus season with bright packaging makeover

Fruit World, Reedley, Calif., is introducing high-graphic recyclable packaging as it enters the citrus season with increased availability of California mandarins and other citrus.