BARTOW – In its March forecast, the United States Department of Agriculture projected a minor decrease in production of Florida Oranges and kept Florida Grapefruit steady for the 2020-21 season.
Released Tuesday, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report predicted a less than 1 percent decrease in Florida Orange production from 56 million boxes to 55.5 million boxes. Florida Grapefruit production remained at 4.6 million boxes. Production of specialty citrus also held steady at 1.05 million boxes.
“As spring approaches, orange blossoms dot the citrus groves signifying that we are both near the end of one season and the beginning of another. We remain hopeful the current forecast holds through the end of harvest and look forward to the opportunities a new season will bring,” 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.
