MAITLAND, Fla. — Results of the annual Commercial Citrus Inventory show total citrus acreage is 407,348 acres, down 3 percent from the last survey and the lowest in a series which began in 1966. The net loss of 12,104 acres is 955 acres more than what was lost last season. New plantings at 10,448 acres are up from the previous season. All citrus trees, at 59.7 million, are down 1 percent from the previous season.
Of the 25 published counties included in the survey, 24 recorded decreases in acreage while 1 county showed an increase. Indian River county lost the most acreage, down 1,681 acres from last year. For the third consecutive season, Desoto County records the most citrus acres at 66,638 acres.
Orange acreage is now at 372,354 acres, down 3 percent from the previous season. The Western area continues to come in with the most orange acreage at 121,395. The Central area has the second most with 119,231 acres. The Southern area now has 113,368 acres. The remaining two areas, the Northern area and Indian River area, combined have 18,360 orange acres. Valencia acreage accounts for 60 percent of the total orange acreage, non-Valencia acreage represents 39 percent, and the remaining orange acreage is unidentified.
Grapefruit acreage is now at 19,908 acres, down 11 percent from last season. White grapefruit (including seedy) is 15 percent of the total with 2,900 acres, while red grapefruit is 85 percent of the total with 16,919 acres. The Indian River District has 69 percent of the total grapefruit acreage.
Specialty fruit acreage, at 15,086 acres, is up 3 percent from last season. Tangerines and tangelos account for 63 percent of the specialty fruit. The remaining acreage includes true lemons and other citrus acreage, with a total of 5,537 acres, or 37 percent.
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–USDA, NASS