Strong citrus season underway

Citrus growers were scrambling to harvest fruit out of muddy groves in California, expecting good-quality fruit out of Florida and could see some additional acreage in Texas by next season.

Some California growers were parking their heavy equipment along the edges of their orange groves and working inward from there to avoid getting stuck in the mud created by heavy rainfall over the past few weeks, said Bob Blakey, vice president of California Citrus Mutual, Exeter.

Fruit started out on the small side but was beginning to size up with the heavy rainfall, he said.

"We've had a really good season," he said. "Movement has been steady, and the quality is good."

He expected California navels to be available into July.

"California as a whole is still battling the drought, so we have been thankful for the sporadic rainstorms that have occurred during our season this year," said Nichole Towell, director of marketing for Salinas, Calif.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods.

Duda was shipping navels, mandarins, lemons and meyer lemons.

"While the rain put packers and shippers on temporary delays, we have not lost any crop and continue to produce fruit at a steady pace," she said.

"Prices are stable with a healthy supply and demand this year," Towell added.

Johnston Farms, Edison, Calif., was sold out of fruit the week of Jan. 9 after more than a week of rain, said partner Dennis Johnston.

"Everything now is saturated, and we can't pick when it's wet," he said.

Nonetheless, he said quality on navels and mandarins has been good.

"Generally, the fruit has been well-received," he said. "It's sweeter than normal."

In Florida, Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Bartow-based Florida Department of Citrus, expressed hope that growers may be starting to get a handle on citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing or HLB.

The state's orange crop was estimated at 71 million boxes, and growers should ship 9 million boxes of grapefruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"We see this as a positive sign that we are gaining ground on HLB and getting closer to a stabilized industry," Shepp said in a news release.

"We continue to see growers invest in the future of Florida citrus by putting new trees in the ground."

At Duda Farm Fresh Foods, which has an operation based in Oviedo, Fla., fruit size of its Florida grapefruit, oranges and tangerines is smaller than normal this season as a result of a late bloom and El Niño weather conditions during the bloom and early stages of fruit development, Towell said.

Meanwhile, weather conditions have been ideal during the fall and winter, she said.

"Cool and dry conditions are prevalent in the Florida citrus-growing area," she said.

"Brix levels are higher compared to recent seasons, creating a fantastic eating experience for Florida citrus."

In Texas, citrus acreage could increase from 27,000 acres this season to as much as 30,000 acres by next year, said Dale Murden, president of Mission-based Texas Citrus Mutual.

This is despite citrus greening disease, the appearance of Mexican fruit flies and the return of citrus canker.

Mission-based Lone Star Citrus Growers is having a "fairly good year" so far with its grapefruit and oranges, said Trent Bishop, vice president of sales.

The market started off high but settled down to more typical levels as peak season got underway in January, he said.

Mission-based South Tex Organics also was having a good year with its organic meyer lemons, navels, early oranges and grapefruit, said president Dennis Holbrook.

Mid-season oranges also were about to start.

"Quality is really good this year," he said. "Demand continues to be strong and has been consistent throughout the season."

Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler, Calif., is shipping navel oranges, lemons, cara caras, minneolas, blood oranges, meyer lemons, red grapefruit, organic mandarins, organic navel oranges and organic lemons this season, said Monique Bienvenue, director of communications

"While rain is always welcomed in the ag industry, it has delayed our picking schedules," she said.

Nonetheless, the quality of Bee Sweet's citrus has been "phenomenal," Bienvenue said.

"We're pleased with the sugar content and how refreshing the fruit is eating this season."