Florida Orange crop projected at 67 million boxes, Grapefruit at 8.9 million boxes
BARTOW, Fla. – According to the latest forecast by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida Orange and Grapefruit production decreased since February.
The March report projects a three million box reduction in the state’s orange crop to 67 million boxes. Two million of that comes from the early and mid-season varieties, which are now fully harvested. The Grapefruit crop was reduced by 100,000 to 8.9 million boxes.
“While news of a decrease is never welcome, the sweet scent of citrus blossoms floating on the breeze brings back fond memories and reminds us that spring is a time of renewal,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “Growers are optimistic that the strategies they are implementing now will pay off in the future and that, as an industry, we will overcome.”
The FDOC, which is mostly funded by box taxes paid by the state’s citrus growers, serves as the chief marketing and promotion arm for the industry.
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 nearly 62,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of nearly $10.7 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.
