BARTOW, Fla. – In its December report, the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service projects production of Florida Oranges at 56 million boxes and Florida Grapefruit at 4.4 million boxes for the 2020-21 season, keeping projections relatively stable month over month.
Released Thursday, these numbers reflect a 2 percent decrease in Florida Orange and Grapefruit production over the initial crop forecast of the season in October. Production of specialty citrus held steady with 1.1 million boxes forecasted.
“With consumer demand for orange juice up year over year, growers are diligently working to produce every box of citrus they can in an effort to continue to supply Americans with the healthy and delicious beverage they seek. Today’s numbers are the first substantial change since the initial crop forecast in October and we still have a long road ahead of us before harvest is complete. We remain optimistic for stabilized production in the new year,” said Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus.
About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs more than 37,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $6.5 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit FloridaCitrus.org.
