The latest US Department of Agriculture crop forecast has projected a slight decrease in the production of Florida oranges and grapefruit.
The report estimates Florida orange production for the 2018/19 season at 71.4m boxes, representing a 1m-box decrease in the Florida Valencia crop.
Florida grapefruit production also decreased by 60,000 boxes of red grapefruit and 10,000 boxes of white grapefruit to 4.51m boxes.
“Considering steep fluctuations in previous seasons, getting through to this part of the season with relatively stable numbers is a win,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus.
The numbers remain an increase from the previous season, devastated by Hurricane Irma, when production dropped to 45.05m boxes of Florida oranges and 3.88m boxes of Florida grapefruit.
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