BARTOW, Fla. – The United States Department of Agriculture increased its projected production of Florida Oranges to 56 million boxes and kept Florida Grapefruit steady at 4.6 million boxes for the 2020-21 season in its February report.
Released Tuesday, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report predicts a 3.7 percent increase in Florida Orange production to 56 million boxes and held Florida Grapefruit production at 4.6 million boxes. Production of specialty citrus declined by 50,000 boxes to 1.05 million boxes.
“Today’s forecast gives us reason to be cautiously optimistic as we proceed through the remainder of the season,” said Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “We are hopeful growers will be able to harvest as much of the Valencia crop as possible with minimal drop in the months to come.”
–Florida Department of Citrus