Florida Grapefruit production falls to 10.8 million boxes
BARTOW, Fla. – The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected Florida Orange production to remain steady and Florida Grapefruit to decline slightly from last month’s forecast.
The report estimates a 69 million box season for Florida Oranges, a number consistent with December’s prediction.
Florida Grapefruit is estimated to drop to 10.8 million boxes from December’s 11.5 million boxes.
A 16 percent decline in production over last season, Florida Grapefruit’s estimated drop is less severe than Florida Orange production’s 29 percent decrease from 2014-15.
“A decline in grapefruit was not unexpected given the overall trend the industry has experienced due to citrus greening. However, the continuity reflected in today’s orange forecast is encouraging,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “The Florida Citrus industry is made up of resilient, hardworking and innovative players who continue to produce the premium quality citrus consumers’ desire – even under less than ideal circumstances. Here, at the FDOC, we continue to support the industry through marketing programs aimed at sharing the great taste and nutrition that makes Florida Citrus unique.”
The FDOC is funded by box taxes paid by the state’s citrus growers on every box of citrus produced.
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.
