In the second forecast of the 2018/19 season, the National Agriculture Statistics Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected a slight decrease in both the Florida orange and grapefruit crops.
The report projects a 2m box reduction in the state’s orange crop to 77m boxes, while the grapefruit crop was reduced by 300,000 to 6.4m boxes.
“This is a customary adjustment in a normal season,' said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. 'Growers are still optimistic and enthusiastic for the season ahead.”
While the industry is still rebounding from Hurricane Irma and the effects of citrus greening disease, this latest report shows an industry starting to recover with a 12 per cent orange increase from the 2016/17 season of 68.7m boxes.
