The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest forecast of Florida orange production and, while unchanged from last month, the figures remain almost 30 percent below what they were last season.
NASS continued to predict 69.0 million boxes of oranges from Florida this season, below the 74 million it forecast back in November and the 80 million included in October's forecast. This latest number represents a 29 percent reduction from last year’s output. NASS forecast 36 million boxes of early, midseason and Navel oranges, down 24 percent from last year. The forecast for Florida Valencia oranges stood at 33 million boxes, down 33 percent from last season and an 11 percent drop from NASS’ prediction last month.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) continued to drop as well, dropping from 1.56 gallons per box in December to 1.50 gallons a box, the same as last year. This represents something of a sharp drop from more optimistic numbers in the fall. Back in October, NASS forecast 1.61 gallons a box which was lowered to 1.58 gallons per box in November.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam weighed in on Tuesday afternoon after NASS released its forecast.
“Today’s USDA citrus crop forecast, even though unchanged, illustrates the dire state of Florida citrus,” Putnam said. “Without immediate and tangible support, citrus’ place in Florida history might just become that – history. I am dedicated to using every tool in the toolbox to save the industry, its more than $10.7 billion economic impact and the more than 64,000 jobs it supports.”
The decline in Florida citrus in recent years is mostly the result of Huanglongbing (HLB), better known as citrus greening.
Spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect, citrus greening infects trees, leading to deformed and bitter fruit. Eventually, citrus greening kills the tree. One of the few ways to fight citrus greening is by removing the tree.
In 2013, the Florida citrus industry -- which generates $9 billion and employs more than 75,000 Floridians -- saw its worst year in almost a quarter century and that downward trend has been continuing. Last year, the USDA awarded $30 million to fight citrus greening and, back in April, launched a project with an additional $23 million in grants to fight citrus greening.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
