This season’s Florida orange crop increased by 5m boxes in the latest estimate released Tuesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The orange crop is projected to hit 76m boxes this season, up 7 per cent on the previous estimate, while the Florida Grapefruit crop held steady at 10.7m boxes.
“Today’s news is encouraging,' said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus.'We must remember this is still an industry in crisis.
'Production costs are at an all-time high and there is less Florida Orange Juice to go around.,' she added. 'While the industry continues to combat citrus greening, we remain committed to educating consumers on the nutritional benefits of Florida Citrus,”
A 5m box rise in Valencias to 40m accounted for the jump. Early and Mid-Season varieties which have been harvested already stayed at 36m boxes.
'It's nice to be in expansion rather than reduction mode while knowing growers are still producing a quality crop,' said Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. 'But our industry remains at historically low production levels as we continue to battle HLB, or citrus greening.'
