In its first forecast of 2017, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the US Department of Agriculture projected a slight decrease in the Florida Orange crop to 71m boxes for the 2016/17 season.
The report also projects a slight decrease in the state’s grapefruit production to 9m boxes.
Despite the decrease in Florida Oranges, the crop size projection remains above the 70m boxes the USDA initially estimated in October.
“These are the slight fluctuations this industry is accustomed to historically in a season,' said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). 'We see this as a positive sign that we are gaining ground on HLB and getting closer to a stabilised industry. We continue to see growers invest in the future of Florida Citrus by putting new trees in the ground.”
The FDOC, which is partially funded by box taxes paid by the state’s citrus growers, serves as the chief marketing and promotion arm for the industry.
