The 2023-2024 U.S. citrus season saw a 6% increase in total utilized production, reaching 5.24 million tons, with California accounting for 79% of output. Florida, which produced 20.2 million boxes, experienced a 12% rebound, driven largely by a 14% rise in orange production. Meanwhile, grapefruit, tangerine, and tangelo volumes declined slightly. This report outlines the methodology behind citrus pricing, including fresh fruit and processing calculations, and provides an overview of price trends and production figures shaping the current citrus market.
Each season, monthly estimates begin as soon as a fruit type is harvested. Fresh fruit sales organizations and packers provide data to calculate an average freight on board (FOB) price, while processors report spot and cash prices for fruit delivered to their plants. After deducting estimated costs for picking, hauling, and packing, the on-tree price is determined. At the season's end, weighted monthly price averages are used to establish a preliminary season average price. A year later, once most processed products have been sold, cooperatives and firms with participation plans report updated prices. These, combined with earlier collected spot and cash prices, are weighted by variety to determine the final processing price received by growers. The final on-tree price is then adjusted based on costs, as estimated by the University of Florida economists. Preliminary figures for the season are revised and released annually in late August or early September.
Fresh prices shown in this publication represent pure fresh fruit and include only packed fruit. Since grading diverts a portion of the crop to processing, returns at processing plants for this diverted fruit are generally lower due to extra costs. To compare fresh prices in this publication with an individual grower's return, a derived price calculation is necessary. For example, if a grower delivers 1,000 boxes of citrus with a packout rate of 60 percent, 600 boxes are shipped fresh at $11.35 per box, generating $6,810. The remaining 400 boxes, which are hauled to a processing facility, receive a price of $4.50 per box, totaling $1,800. The total revenue from this delivery is $8,610, which, when divided by the total 1,000 boxes, results in a derived price of $8.61 per box. Growers can use this formula to estimate their specific fresh returns based on packout rates.
Total U.S. citrus utilized production for the 2023-2024 season reached 5.24 million tons, a six percent increase from the previous season. California accounted for 79 percent of total U.S. citrus production, Florida made up 17 percent, and Texas and Arizona produced the remaining four percent. Florida's citrus production in 2023-2024 totaled 20.2 million boxes, marking a 12 percent increase from the previous season's 18.1 million boxes. Florida's orange production rose by 14 percent to 18.0 million boxes, while grapefruit utilization declined by one percent to 1.79 million boxes. Tangerine and tangelo production saw a six percent decrease compared to last season. The increase in overall production reflects a positive trend for the U.S. citrus industry, with California maintaining its dominance while Florida experiences a modest rebound.
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