Florida citrus production is up this year, according to the USDA’s November crop production report.
The 2023-24 Florida all-orange forecast is estimated at 20.5 million boxes, up 30% from last season’s final production.
The total, according to the report, includes 7.5 million boxes of non-valencia oranges (early, midseason, and navel varieties) and 13 million boxes of valencia oranges.
The navel orange forecast, at 300,000 boxes, accounts for 4% of the non-valencia total.
The forecast of all grapefruit production is carried forward at 1.9 million boxes, 5% more than last season’s utilization of 1.81 million boxes. That total comprises 1.65 million boxes of red grapefruit and 250,000 boxes of white grapefruit, according to the report.
The forecast for tangerines and tangelos is rated at 500,000 boxes, 4% more than last season’s utilization of 480,000 boxes.
The crop season began with the harvesting of navel and hamlin oranges, red grapefruit, and fallglo and early pride tangerines, primarily for the fresh market.
