This year’s citrus harvest in Florida will likely turn out better than originally projected.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revised its citrus crop projection for this year and it’s a brighter outlook than what was forecast in January. USDA officials say they expect citrus growers in the Sunshine State to produce 12.2 million boxes of oranges this season. That’s up from the January estimate of 12 million boxes.
Analysts also revised forecasts for the grapefruit harvest in Florida. That figure has gone from 1.2 million boxes to 1.25 million boxes. Tangelo and tangerine projections also jumped by 50,000 boxes from January, with analysts now expecting 450,000 boxes.
“Strength in the harvest points to recovery ahead, despite recent weather challenges and ongoing impacts from citrus greening disease,” said Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.
“Florida’s citrus growers have a long history of meeting adversity with resilience. Growers are working diligently to rebuild, implementing grove management tools that work and replanting trees that show tolerance to disease, to accelerate gains in fruit quality, size and volume.”
Joyner also credited Florida’s Legislature for approving a bill (SB 290) designed to advance citrus research in the state. The measure merges the Citrus Research and Development Foundation into the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation. The move is designed to bolster research that would fight citrus greening and other citrus protection efforts. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure March 23.
Joyner also said Florida Citrus Mutual is joining state and federal officials in working to provide disaster relief after biting freezes in late January and early February that caused an estimated $675 million hit to the industry.
Florida Citrus Mutual represents more than 1,500 grower members and is the state’s largest citrus grower organization. The Florida citrus industry creates a nearly $7 billion economic impact and employs more than 32,500 people across the state, working more than 208,000 acres.
