A USDA Economic Research Service report estimates total citrus production to be down in the United States for the 2011-2012 season. Although overall orange production was up from last year, decreases in all other citrus categories brought total production down.The total citrus forecast for the 2011-2012 season is 11.6 million tons, down from the previous season’s total of 11.7 million tons.
At 2.3 million tons, California’s orange production was down from the 2010-2011 season due to a navel orange crop that, at 1.8 million tons, was 8% smaller than the previous year. Florida orange production was up from the 2010-2011 season with a total of 6.6 million tons.
A freeze in Arizona that caused significant damage to the lemon crop contributed to lower production. At 28,000 tons, Arizona’s production was down 72% from the previous year while national production was down 14% at 808,000 tons. Imported lemons, mostly from Mexico, helped shore up lower domestic production.