The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that the latest 2016/17 Florida orange crop estimate remained steady at 72m boxes.
The USDA said that Valencia oranges came to 36m boxes, as did Early and Mid-Season varieties.
'In these challenging times stability is a good thing so I am encouraged that the number held,' said Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. 'We have the best growers in the world and they continue to produce a quality crop even faced with immense disease pressure from HLB, or citrus greening.'
The December report pegged the 2016/17 Florida grapefruit crop at 9.3m boxes, down 300,000 boxes, while the specialty citrus forecast is 1.5m boxes.
