Florida orange production remained steady while grapefruit production declined, according to the latest forecast by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
The April report projects the state’s orange crop to stay at 67m boxes for the 2016/17 season, while the grapefruit crop was reduced by 800,000 boxes to 8.1m boxes.
“It’s a tough hit for Florida’s Grapefruit growers who have been so committed to fighting pest and disease to maintain this staple of Florida’s economy,' said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). 'Florida Grapefruit is, by far, what world consumers seek out for its unique flavor profile, sweetness and juiciness.”
The FDOC, which is mostly funded through box taxes paid by the state’s citrus growers, serves as the chief marketing, regulation and promotional arm of the industry.
