California’s navel orange crop is forecast to hit 86m 40-pound cartons this season, according to the California Agricultural Statistics Service 2015/16 report released on 11 September.
The Central Valley region, which is forecast to produce 83m of the 86m cartons, is up 8.6 per cent compared to the 76m cartons harvested last year, with fruit count per tree up 19 per cent, while estimated acreage is down 2,000 acres (809.37ha) compared to last year.
Industry association California Citrus Mutual (CCM) said that its growers estimated this season’s crop to come in at a slightly bigger crop than 2014/15, with fruit size larger and fruit set also looking better due to good growing conditions during spring.
“The external quality is very good and the extended periods of high temperatures this summer have increased brix, so flavour is expected to be excellent this season. The crop is maturing well, with harvest expected to begin in early October,” said CCM.
The decrease in acreage has been the result of California’s ongoing drought, though CCM has said that the 2,000acre reduction is probably conservative, meaning the navel orange crop this season may fall
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