Consumers in Florida and across the US should expect the price of Florida oranges, grapefruits and processed products to increase as a direct response to the ravages of Hurricane Ian. Yesterday, the USDA released the initial citrus crop forecast for the 2022-23 season, but that survey was taken before the hurricane. The forecast includes a decrease in Florida orange, grapefruit and specialty crop (mostly tangerines and tangelos) production.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida all orange forecast, at 28.0 million boxes (1.26 million tons), was down 32 percent from last season's final utilization. Navel varieties were forecast down 40 percent from last season and the Valencia orange forecast was down 25 percent.
The industry has struggled for years with issues such as deadly citrus-greening disease, and the surveys found trees showing smaller-sized fruit and fewer oranges per tree. After the hurricane, further production decreases will likely mean even more scarcity and increased prices at the grocery store.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried released a statement saying: "As we move forward in the wake of this disaster, rest assured that I remain steadfast in my support of our Florida citrus growers. And my department remains committed to innovation in the face of the ongoing challenges of weather events like Ian, citrus greening and unfair trade practices. It is heartbreaking to see such an iconic Florida industry hurting right now."
Fried said that the current citrus forecast, surveyed prior to Hurricane Ian, will be ‘an invaluable baseline for growers, processors, packers and government in predicting additional crop loss’. A December forecast will reflect updated inspections of groves.
Source: cbsnews.com