The February forecast for this season’s Florida citrus crop remained steady for oranges and dipped slightly for grapefruit, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The report estimates a 69m-box season for Florida oranges, a number consistent with predictions over each of the last two months. The current forecast represents a 29 per cent decrease compared with last season.
Florida Grapefruit is estimated to decrease to 10.5m boxes from January’s 10.8m boxes.
“The consistency in today’s forecast is certainly an encouraging note for the industry and the consumers who count on us. Our growers across the state continue their heroic work to produce Florida’s signature crop, even as citrus greening continues to threaten our groves,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus.
