U.S. orange and grapefruit crops are forecast up in 2023-24, but lemon and tangerine crops are rated lower than a year ago, according to USDA crop production numbers.
California all-orange production for 2023-24 has been estimated by the USDA at 44.5 million (80-pound) boxes, up slightly from 43.2 million boxes last season. Navel, early navel and midseason varieties output is forecast by the USDA at 37 million boxes in 2023-24, up from 36.5 million boxes last season.
Florida all-orange production, used mainly for processing, was estimated at 20.5 million 90-pound boxes, up from 15.8 million boxes last season.
Texas orange output for 2023-24 was rated at 800,000 85-pound boxes, down from 1.13 million boxes last season.
The USDA put the U.S. grapefruit crop for 2023-24 at 8.1 million 85-pound boxes, up from 8.06 million boxes last season. Florida’s grapefruit was forecast at 2.4 million boxes, up from 1.81 million boxes last season.
California’s grapefruit output was rated at 3.5 million boxes in 2023-24, down from 4 million boxes last season. Texas grapefruit production was forecast by the USDA at 2.2 million boxes, about the same as 2.25 million boxes a year ago.
U.S. mandarin and tangerine production is rated at 23.55 million boxes, down slightly from 24.18 million boxes a year ago. California accounts for 98% of tangerine and mandarin production, with 2% of supply from Florida.
The U.S. lemon output for 2023-24 is 24.5 million boxes, down 12% from a year ago. California accounts for 98% of U.S. lemon output, with Arizona supplying 2% of the total domestic supply.
