The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) monthly forecast for the 2013/14 Florida orange crop, released today (12 June), has decreased 6m boxes to 104.3m boxes.
Early-mid varieties accounted for 53.3m boxes while Valencias dropped 6m boxes to 51m boxes.
'This decrease is about what we expected with the continuing effects of HLB, or citrus greening, so we are not surprised,' said Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, while taking a break at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference (FCIAC). 'The flip side is without the resiliency and superior production methods of the Florida citrus grower it could have been worse. The crop is still very high quality.'
More than 750 people are now gathering at the Hyatt Coconut Point in Bonita Springs to discuss the state of the Florida citrus industry. The annual event mixes business, industry issues and camaraderie.
'Our record conference attendance even in these trying times is a testament to our commitment to the future of our $9bn industry and the 76,000 jobs it supports,' Sparks continued.
The USDA's estimate of the 2013/14 Florida grapefruit crop stayed at 15.6m boxes, and specialty fruit held steady at 3.83m boxes.
