Today USDA published results of the first maturity tests for Florida’s 2019/20 early and midseason oranges and for grapefruit. Results were based on samples taken Aug. 26-27 and processed in USDA labs on Aug. 28-29.
For early and midseason oranges tested, the average 2019/20 solids-to-acid ratio was nearly the same as the initial measure in 2018/19 and 3 percent higher than the five-year average, which still reflects sub-7.0 September ratios from 2014 through 2017. Unfinished juice and solids per box were both very close to 2015/16 levels, at over 45 pounds per box for juice and over 4 pounds per box for solids.
September ratios for grapefruit put red grapefruit at 6.63, down 2 percent from last September’s results, and white grapefruit at 6.36, down 1 percent. Unfinished juice for red grapefruit was measured at 39.4 pounds per box, 7 percent higher than a year ago, and 38.9 pounds per box for white grapefruit, also up 7 percent. On a solids basis, red grapefruit was just under 4 pounds per box and white grapefruit was just over 4 pounds, both up about 11 percent year over year.
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