USDA projects 9 million boxes Florida Grapefruit, 70 million boxes Florida Oranges
BARTOW, Fla. – The Florida Grapefruit crop held steady at 9 million boxes, according to the February forecast by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the Florida Orange crop decreased slightly.
The report projects a one million box reduction in the state’s orange crop to 70 million boxes.
According to Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus: “Today’s forecast reflects a true utilization of early, mid-season, and Navel varieties. We hope for higher numbers of Valencia production as we continue through the second half of the season.”
The FDOC, which is mostly funded by box taxes paid by the state’s citrus growers, serves as the chief marketing and promotion arm for the industry.
About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs nearly 62,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of nearly $10.7 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit FloridaCitrus.org.
