The USDA’s January crop production report knocked down Florida orange and grapefruit estimates compared with the December forecast.
The USDA said Jan. 12 that the U.S. all-orange forecast for the 2022-23 season is 2.7 million tons, down 5% from the previous forecast and down 22% from 2021-22 final utilization.
The Florida all-orange forecast, at 18 million boxes (810,000 tons), is down 10% from the previous forecast and down 56% from last season’s final utilization.
In Florida, early, midseason and navel varieties are forecast at 7 million boxes (315,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 62% from last season’s final utilization. The Florida valencia orange forecast, at 11 million boxes (495,000 tons), is down 15% from the December forecast and down 52% from last season’s final utilization.
The California all-orange forecast is 46.1 million boxes (1.84 million tons), down 2% from previous forecast but up 14% from last season’s final utilization.
The California navel orange forecast is 38 million boxes (1.52 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but up 19% from last season’s final utilization. The California valencia orange forecast is 8.10 million boxes (324,000 tons), down 11% from the previous forecast and down 6% from last season’s final utilization.
The Texas all-orange forecast, at 1.15 million boxes (49,000 tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but up significantly from last season’s final utilization.
Grapefruit
The U.S. 2022-23 grapefruit crop is forecast at 324,000 tons, up 1% from the previous forecast but down 13% from last season’s final utilization. California’s grapefruit is forecast at 4.3 million boxes (172,000 tons), up 5% from the previous forecast and up 5% from last season.
The Texas grapefruit forecast at 2.2 million boxes is up 10% from the previous forecast and up 29% from the 2021-22 season. The Florida forecast, at 1.5 million boxes (64,000 tons), is down 17% from the previous forecast and down 55% from the last season.
Lemons
The 2022-23 U.S. lemon crop is forecast at 940,000 tons, down 3% from the previous forecast and down 9% from last season’s final utilization. The California forecast, at 22 million boxes (880,000 tons), is down 4% from the previous forecast and down 12% from the 2021-22 season.
The Arizona forecast, at 1.50 million boxes (60,000 tons), is up 30% from the previous forecast and up 58% from last year.
Tangerines and mandarins
The U.S. tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 904,000 tons, up 9% from the previous forecast and up 23% from last season’s final utilization.
The California tangerine and mandarin forecast, at 22 million boxes (880,000 tons) is up 10% from the last forecast and up 26% from last year.
