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.
The U.S. all-orange forecast for the 2022/23 season is 3.19 million tons, down 8% from the 2021/22 final utilization, according to USDA’s crop production report.
Florida’s orange output will drop substantially compared with last season, according to USDA.
Florida’s all-orange forecast, at 28 million boxes (1.26 million tons), is down 32% from last season's final utilization, the report said.
In Florida, early, midseason and navel varieties are forecast at 11 million boxes (495,000 tons), down 40% from last season's final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 17 million boxes (765,000 tons), is down 25% from last season's final utilization, the report said.
The USDA crop report did not specifically say if the estimate fully reflected damage Florida citrus groves received from Hurricane Ian, which struck southwest Florida in late September.
“Today’s citrus forecast, surveyed prior to Hurricane Ian ravaging the Florida Citrus Industry’s 375,000 acres of commercial citrus, will be an invaluable baseline for growers, processors, packers and government in predicting additional crop loss," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement. "As we move forward in the wake of this disaster, rest assured that I remain steadfast in my support of our Florida citrus growers, and my department remains committed to innovation in the face of the ongoing challenges of weather events like Ian, citrus greening and unfair trade practices. It is heartbreaking to see such an iconic Florida industry hurting right now. This year will be tough, no one is disputing that, but I believe in the tenacity and passion of our citrus industry professionals to come back stronger than ever. Side-by-side with our industry partners and stakeholders, I promise I will do everything in my power to secure all the available resources for Florida’s growers to recover from Hurricane Ian.”
In contrast with Florida, USDA said orange production in California is up for 2022/23. The California all-orange forecast is 47.1 million boxes (1.88 million tons), up 17% from the last season's final utilization.
The California navel orange forecast is 38 million boxes (1.52 million tons), up 19% from the last season's final utilization. The California Valencia orange forecast is 9.10 million boxes (364,000 tons), up 6% from last season's final utilization.
The Texas all orange forecast, at 1.15 million boxes (49,000 tons), is up significantly from last season's final utilization, the crop report said.
Grapefruit
The U.S. 2022/23 grapefruit crop is forecast at 329,000 tons, down 12% from last season's final utilization.
The California forecast, at 4.10 million boxes (164,000 tons), is unchanged from the last season, according to the report.
The Texas forecast, at 2 million boxes (80,000 tons), is up 18% from the 2021/22 season.
The Florida grapefruit forecast, at 2 million boxes (85,000 tons), is down 40% from the last season.
USDA said the total Florida grapefruit forecast is comprised of 1.80 million boxes of red grapefruit and 200,000 boxes of white grapefruit.
The red grapefruit forecast at 1.80 million boxes is 36% less than last season’s final production.
Florida’s bearing trees are down 9% from last season’s revised bearing tree numbers, and the crop report said the average fruit per tree is 12 pieces less than last season.
Florida grapefruit droppage is projected to be slightly above average, while the fruit size at the final month is expected to be slightly below average.
The Florida white grapefruit forecast of 200,000 boxes is 60% less than last season’s final production.
White grapefruit-bearing trees declined by 23% from last season’s revised bearing tree numbers, the report said. The average fruit per tree is 22 pieces less than last season, and 13 pieces less than the nine-year season average. Current fruit sizes are below average, and the report indicated fruit is expected to be below average at harvest.
Lemons and tangerines
The 2022/23 U.S. lemon crop is forecast at 966,000 tons, down 7% from last season's final utilization. The California forecast, at 23 million boxes (920,000 tons), is down 8% from the 2021/22 season. The Arizona forecast, at 1.15 million boxes (46,000 tons), is up 21% from last year.
The U.S. tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 833,000 tons, up 14% from last season's final utilization.
The California tangerine and mandarin forecast, at 20 million boxes (800,000 tons), is up 15% from the previous year. The Florida tangerine and mandarin forecast, at 700,000 boxes (33,000 tons), is down 7% from last year.
