The USDA has released the Florida citrus forecast for the season 2018-2019. All orange production will be down 1%, Non-Valencia orange production will be down 2% while the Valencia orange and tangerine and tangelo production will remain unchanged. Grapefruit production will be down by 9%
All Oranges 76.5 Million Boxes
The 2018-2019 Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 76.5 million boxes,down slightly from the March forecast. The total includes 30.5 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 46.0 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
Non-Valencia Oranges 30.5 Million Boxes
The forecast of non-Valencia production is 30.5 million boxes, down 500,000 boxes from the March forecast. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28, 2019, showed 98 percent of the early-mid-season rows are harvested. Estimated utilization for non-Valencia orange sto April 1, with an allocation for non-certified fruit, is 30.4 million boxes. The Navel forecast, included in the non-Valencia portion of the forecast, remains at 750 thousand boxes.
Valencia Oranges 46.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of Valencia production is unchanged at 46.0 million boxes. Final fruit size is below the minimum,requiring 265 pieces to fill a 90-pound box. Final droppage is above average. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28, 2019 showed 27 percent of the Valencia rows are harvested. Estimated utilization for Valencia oranges to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified fruit, is 11.4 million boxes.
All Grapefruit 4.90 Million Boxes
The forecast of all grapefruit production is lowered 500 thousand boxes to 4.90 million boxes.The white grapefruit forecast is unchanged at 800 thousand boxes. The red grapefruit forecast is lowered 500 thousand boxes to 4.10 million boxes. Estimated utilization to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified use, of white grapefruit is 764 thousand boxes and of red grapefruit is 3.56 million boxes. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28,2019, indicated 94 percent of the red grapefruit rows and 93 percent of the white grapefruit rows are harvested.
Tangerines and Tangelos 950 Thousand Boxes
The forecast for the tangerine and tangelo production is unchanged at 950 thousand boxes. If realized, this production level will be 27 percent more than last season’s hurricane affected production of 750 thousand boxes. This forecast number includes all certified tangerine and tangelo varieties.Estimated utilization to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified use is 930 thousand boxes.