Estimates for California orange production show sizable drop

A nationwide crop production report released Oct 10  by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated California's orange production to be 44 million boxes (1.65 million tons) for 2008-09, down 32 percent from 2007-08 final numbers and 4 percent below the 2006-07 crop.

 

California's Navel oranges for 2008-09 are estimated at 32 million boxes (1.2 million tons), down 34 percent from 2007-08 and down 7 percent from 2006-07.

 

Numerous California citrus growers told The Produce News that warm temperatures during the bloom affected their Navel crop, and most estimated that their 2008-09 volume would be lower than the 2007-08 crop by as much as 30 percent or more.

 

The report's Oct. 10  estimate for California Valencias is 12 million boxes (450,000 tons), down 25 percent from 2007-08 but up 4 percent from 2006- 07.

 

The report said that a "lower-than-average Navel yield is expected since fruit set per tree is at the lowest level on record."

At the time of the report, the 2007-08 Valencia crop was still being harvested. The report also said that growers expect a decrease in production for the 2008-09 crop.

 

 

The report's all orange forecast for the United States for 2008-09 is 9.19 million tons, down 10 percent from 2007-08 but 21 percent higher than 2006-07.

 

Florida has not been hit strongly as Texas and Arizona.

The 2008-09 estimate has Florida at 166 million boxes (7.47 million tons), a 2 percent decline from last season's final number but 29 percent higher than the 2006-07 crop.

The Oct. 1 estimate for all oranges in Texas is 1.5 million boxes (64,000 tons), down 13 percent from 2007-08 and 24 percent lower than 2006-07. The report estimated Arizona's all orange production at 250,000 boxes, down 34 percent from last season and 17 percent lower than 2006-07.