The latest forecast for California's Valencia orange crop shows that dry weather has not negatively impacted production this season.California's growers are expected to grow 24 million cartons of Valencia oranges this year, according to the 2013-2014 Valencia orange objective measurement report put out by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. That figure puts this season roughly on par with production from the previous two seasons, which were both at 25 million cartons.
The report noted that production, as well as average fruit size and set per tree, has not been negatively impacted despite dry conditions this year and a freeze in December. In fact, average fruit set per tree was estimated to be 616, which is above the five-year average of 603, and average March diameter was 2.571 inches, which is above the five-year average of 2.566 inches.