report\u00a0<\/a>estimates a 69 million box season for Florida Oranges, a number consistent with December\u2019s prediction.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFlorida Grapefruit is estimated to drop to 10.8 million boxes from December\u2019s 11.5 million boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 16 percent decline in production over last season, Florida Grapefruit\u2019s estimated drop is less severe than Florida Orange production\u2019s 29 percent decrease from 2014-15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA decline in grapefruit was not unexpected given the overall trend the industry has experienced due to citrus greening. However, the continuity reflected in today\u2019s orange forecast is encouraging,\u201d said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. \u201cThe Florida Citrus industry is made up of resilient, hardworking and innovative players who continue to produce the premium quality citrus consumers\u2019 desire \u2013 even under less than ideal circumstances. Here, at the FDOC, we continue to support the industry through marketing programs aimed at sharing the great taste and nutrition that makes Florida Citrus unique.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FDOC is funded by box taxes paid by the state\u2019s citrus growers on every box of citrus produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the Florida Department of Citrus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry.\u00a0 Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels.\u00a0 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\u2019s schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit FloridaCitrus.org.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Florida Grapefruit production falls to 10.8 million boxes BARTOW, Fla.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The\u00a0National Agricultural Statistics Service\u00a0of the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected Florida Orange production to remain steady and Florida Grapefruit to decline […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":189,"template":"","fdoc_news_item_category":[80,100,101],"fdoc_citrus_type":[110,107],"fdoc_health_category":[],"class_list":["post-4227","fdoc-news-item","type-fdoc-news-item","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","fdoc_news_item_category-fdoc","fdoc_news_item_category-industry","fdoc_news_item_category-orange-production","fdoc_citrus_type-grapefruit","fdoc_citrus_type-orange"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t