TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the initial citrus crop forecast for the 2022-23 season. The forecast includes a decrease in Florida Orange, Grapefruit and Specialty Crop production. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement:
“Today’s citrus forecast, surveyed prior to Hurricane Ian ravaging the Florida Citrus Industry’s 375,000 acres of commercial citrus, will be an invaluable baseline for growers, processors, packers and government in predicting additional crop loss. As we move forward in the wake of this disaster, rest assured that I remain steadfast in my support of our Florida citrus growers, and my department remains committed to innovation in the face of the ongoing challenges of weather events like Ian, citrus greening and unfair trade practices. It is heartbreaking to see such an iconic Florida industry hurting right now. This year will be tough, no one is disputing that, but I believe in the tenacity and passion of our citrus industry professionals to come back stronger than ever. Side-by-side with our industry partners and stakeholders, I promise I will do everything in my power to secure all the available resources for Florida’s growers to recover from Hurricane Ian.”
Forecast: The United States all orange forecast for the 2022-2023 season is 3.19 million tons, down 8 percent from the 2021- 2022 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 28.0 million boxes (1.26 million tons), is down 32 percent from last season’s final utilization. In Florida, early, midseason, and Navel varieties are forecast at 11.0 million boxes (495,000 tons), down 40 percent from last season’s final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 17.0 million boxes (765,000 tons), is down 25 percent from last season’s final utilization. Grapefruit is forecast at 2.0 million boxes and 700,000 boxes of Specialty fruit.
Commissioner Fried has been a strong advocate for Florida’s citrus industry, helping secure vital citrus funding in the 20221-22 state budget with over $18.5 million for citrus research projects, citrus health, fighting pests, diseases and inspection.
–FDACS