February forecast of Florida orange crops

The Florida all orange forecast released yesterday by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 158 million boxes.

 

The reduction of 4 million boxes is comprised of 1 million boxes of the early-midseason-Navel oranges and 3 million boxes of the later maturing Valencia oranges.

 

If realized, this forecast will be 7% less than last season’s production but 22% more than the production of 2006-07.

 

The February forecast has differed from actual production by an average of 3.7% in recent non-hurricane seasons.