BARTOW – The United States Department of Agriculture projected no change in Florida Orange production in the May forecast.
Released Wednesday, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report predicted Florida Orange production to remain at 51.7 million boxes. Florida Grapefruit production decreased 100,000 boxes to 4.2 million. Production of specialty citrus also decreased slightly from 950,000 boxes to 900,000.
“Today’s forecast reflects the ongoing challenges this industry is facing but it does not paint the whole picture,” said Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “Throughout the pandemic, consumers increasingly turned to Florida Orange Juice for not only its great taste, but the health and wellness benefits every glass provides. Florida Citrus growers are working hard every day to support this demand by exploring new ways to improve production and investing in research to solve citrus greening. We are confident they will prevail and Florida Citrus will remain available to all who seek it out.”
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.
