Today’s citrus production report confirmed recent speculation that the 2018/19 Florida Valencia crop is not as large as USDA’s earlier forecast. USDA lowered estimated Valencia production by 4.0 million 90-lb boxes, down 9 percent from the April projection. The state’s early-midseason orange production was also lowered slightly to 30.4 million boxes, down 100,000 boxes from April.

USDA attributed the reduction in the Valencia box count to finding a lower actual row count than the initial season survey, rather than a reduction to limb count. At the new forecast volume, the crop would be about 62 percent harvested, still notably behind usual harvest progress.

This season’s Valencia ratio was 18.37 as of May, the highest in several seasons. Brix level was 11.81 percent, close to 2015/16’s May value. Unfinished juice volume was 54.37 pounds per box, lower than the May value in recent years.

Ratio progression: Valencia oranges


Source: USDA
Posted by: Information Services
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