Texas citrus utilization rises in 2023-24

The state’s orange production was up 4% from the previous season, and grapefruit production increased 7%, the USDA reports.

Grapefruit
Texas orange production was up 4% from the previous season, and grapefruit production increased 7%, the USDA reports.
(Photo: akepong srichaichana, Adobe Stock)

Utilized production of citrus in Texas for 2023-24 was up 6% from the 2022-23 season, the USDA reports. Texas orange production was up 4% from the previous season and grapefruit production increased 7%.

For all U.S. citrus states, utilized production for the 2023-24 season totaled 5.24 million tons, up 6% from the 2022-23 season, according to the USDA.

California accounted for 79% of total U.S. citrus production; Florida totaled 17%, and Texas and Arizona produced the remaining 4%.

The value of the 2023-24 U.S. citrus crop totaled $2.98 billion, up 16% compared to 2022-23.

The 2023-24 orange value of production increased 2% from last season, and grapefruit value was up 4%. Tangerine and mandarin value of production was 34% higher than last season, and lemon value of production is up 22%, the USDA said.

California’s utilized citrus production increased 5% from the 2022-23 season, the USDA said. California’s all-orange production, at 47.5 million boxes, was 7% higher than the previous season. Tangerine and mandarin production in California was up 17% from last season. California’s lemon production decreased 5% from the previous season. Grapefruit production is down 4% from the 2022-23 season.

Florida’s orange production, at 18 million boxes, was up 14% from the previous season. Grapefruit utilization in Florida, at 1.79 million boxes, was down 1% from last season’s utilization. Florida’s total citrus utilization increased 11% from the previous season. Bearing citrus acreage, at 249,800 acres, was 48,600 acres below the 2022-23 season.

Arizona’s lemon production was down 32%, the USDA said.

Average 2023-24 U.S. shipping point fob orange prices per carton (including California, Texas, and Florida)

2023

  • September — $36.20.
  • October — $39.30.
  • November — $40.
  • December — $37.20.

2024

  • January — $34.10.
  • February — $38.60.
  • March — $33.90.
  • April — $34.30.
  • May — $34.70.
  • June — $34.10.
  • July — $41.40.

Source: USDA

Average 2023-24 U.S. shipping point fob grapefruit prices (including California, Texas and Florida)
(D)=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

2023

  • September — (D)
  • October — $48.
  • November — $53.60.
  • December — $54.10.

2024

  • January — $52.10.
  • February — $47.60.
  • March — $47.
  • April — $42.90.
  • May — (D)
  • June — (D)
  • July — (D)

Source: USDA

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