Shipments of oranges and grapefruit from Texas should be up slightly this season, according to the November citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Growers were expected to pack 1.5 million 85-pound boxes of oranges, up from 1.3 million boxes last season; and 4.9 million 80-pound boxes of grapefruit, up from 4.4 million boxes during the 2019-20 season.
Mission-based Texas Valley Citrus Committee was still was packing early oranges during the first part of January and should start late varieties in February, said Ted Prukop, manager.
Grapefruit will ship until the end of the season in mid-April or May. Last year, shipments stopped in April because of hot weather.
“The fruit wouldn’t hold up, so they quit shipping early,” he said.
The season usually runs into May.
If temperatures are lower this spring, volume may be higher than last year, Prukop said.
The appearance of the grapefruit may leave something to be desired.
“We had Hurricane Hanna come through (in late July), and that may have scarred up some fruit and shook off some of the bigger fruit,” he said.
The inside quality should be better, he said, “but consumers tend to buy with their eyes.”
Oranges were not affected as much by the hurricane because of their smaller size, but some scarring could be present.
For the most part, growing weather has been favorable with little rain.
“We haven’t had anything to slow our harvest down,” Prukop said.
Grapefruit from Lone Star Citrus Growers, Mission, Texas, has been “phenomenal” this season, said April Flowers, marketing director.
“There’s great blush and very low acid this year, lending to a very nice sugar-acid ratio, so it tastes great,” she said.
Volume is down because of the natural growing cycles this season, said T.J. Flowers, vice president of operations and sales.
Volume also was affected negatively by the hurricane, but growing conditions were good, he said.
“We had a lot of good rain at the right time this year, and an unseasonably dry October, which helped us mobilize the harvest smoothly at a time when demand was high,” April Flowers said.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail sales are up, and foodservice wholesale markets are way down, T.J. Flowers said.
“The price is up, which is good,” he added.
Lone Star Citrus Growers markets Texas red grapefruit, 90% of which is the Rio Star variety, and Texas Marrs, navel and valencia oranges.
Fresh and juice product is available for both commodities.
Edinburg Citrus Association, Edinburg, Texas, also was seeing some good-quality citrus, said Ashlynn Biel Elliff, who handles sales and marketing.
“We have had great color and sugar content from the start of the season,” she said. “The size spectrum has been great, very consistent across the board.”
Volume also is consistent, she said, and despite the challenges of COVID-19, the harvest remains on schedule.
“Retail sales are up greatly from last year, partly because citrus is loaded with vitamin C, which has been proven to help boost your immune system and overall health,” she said.
Like many other citrus grower-shippers, Edinburg Citrus Association has seen heavy demand for bagged product.
“This increase in demand for bagged produce is a direct result of the pandemic because bags are simply easier for the consumer to grab and go with minimal contact,” Elliff said.
“It seems like people are also buying more in bulk to limit their trips out in public,” she added.
But the association has experienced a major drop in volume from foodservice customers.
“The lockdowns across the nation are really taking a toll on the foodservice industry, which supplied school cafeterias and restaurants,” she said.
Elliff said securing adequate labor has been a challenge this season.
“The unemployment benefits have been so high that there is no incentive for anyone to work,” she said. “We still have many job openings that need to be filled.”
