The U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 10 forecast 2013-14 U.S. orange production at 7,368,000 tons (170 million boxes), down 25,000 tons from the prior forecast and down 12% from 8,349,000 tons in 2012-13.
The U.S.D.A. forecast Florida orange production at 5,130,000 tons (114 million 90-lb boxes), down 45,000 tons, or 1%, from the prior forecast and down 15% from 6,013,000 tons in 2012-13. If realized it will be the smallest crop in 24 years.
Florida’s frozen concentrated orange juice yield was forecast at 1.61 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from the February forecast but up 1% from last season’s final yield of 1.59 gallons.
The California orange crop was forecast at 2,160,000 tons (54 million 80-lb boxes), up 1% from the prior forecast but down 4% from 2,260,000 tons in 2012-13. The Texas crop was forecast at 78,000 tons (2 million 85-lb boxes), unchanged from February and up 2,000 tons from 2012-13.
