Home > News & Media > USDA Increases 2009-2010 Florida Orange Estimate

USDA Increases 2009-2010 Florida Orange Estimate

Contact: Andrew Meadows at (863) 682-1111 or (cell) (863) 944-4924
For Immediate Release:

LAKELAND, Fla. (March 10, 2010) –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) increased its March orange crop forecast for the 2009-2010 season by 2 million boxes. Florida is now expected to produce 131 million boxes of oranges.

“This estimate is evidence that Florida citrus came through the ‘freeze that would never end’ in better shape than we first thought,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “It was a tough patch but one can’t underestimate the resiliency of our industry.”

“The reduction in juice yield could have a positive impact to growers on current cash prices for uncommitted Valencias,” Sparks continued. “But with trees ready to bloom in the next few weeks the outlook for next season’s crop is going to start influencing the marketplace.”

In mid-January, the Florida citrus industry experienced more than a week straight of sub-freezing temperatures. The result was frozen fruit and leaf damage across most of the state’s growing regions.

Visit www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Citrus/cpfp.htm for the complete USDA estimate. The USDA makes its initial forecast in October and then revises it monthly until the end of the season in July.

The USDA held steady on its grapefruit estimate at 18.8 million boxes.

The orange increase came in early and midseason varieties. That estimate grew by 2 million boxes to 68 million. The projection for Valencias stayed at 63 million boxes. For Florida specialty fruit, the USDA’s tangelo and tangerine estimate remained at 900,000 boxes and 4 million boxes respectively.

The all variety yield for frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) is expected to be 1.53 gallons per 90-pound box, down from 1.56. The Valencia yield dropped from 1.70 to 1.58.

The Florida citrus industry creates a $9 billion annual economic impact, employing nearly 76,000 people, and covering more than 576,000 acres. Founded in 1948 and currently representing nearly 8,000 grower members, Florida Citrus Mutual is the state’s largest citrus grower organization. For more information, visit www.flcitrusmutual.com.