Florida Citrus

[frankthetank]

Can't be good for Florida's economy...

2004-05 Florida citrus crop forecast affected by hurricanes

10/13/2004
(The following information is from the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s "Food News Update.")

The 2004-05 Florida orange forecast released Oct. 12 by the USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Board is 176 million boxes, 27 percent less than last season.

The total U.S. orange forecast is 10.3 million tons, which is down 20 percent from last season. The total is divided into the early-midseason-Navel forecast of 92 million boxes (including 3 million boxes of Navels) and the late-season (Valencia) forecast of 84 million boxes.

The all orange FCOJ yield projection is 1.56 gallons per box of 42 degrees Brix concentrate.

The forecast of Florida grapefruit for certified utilization is 15 million boxes. This figure would amount to 63 percent less than last season's production. White grapefruit is forecast at 4 million boxes and colored varieties at 11 million.

The forecast for all Florida tangerines is 4.7 million boxes.

[Josephine96]

I saw that on the news this morning.. Prices for OJ may go up too it appears huh

[Persepone]

News here in MA said that some large percentage of the Florida tomato, lettuce, cucumber, bell pepper, etc. crops were also destroyed by the hurricanes.

[frankthetank]

I read that CAlifornia is cashing in on Floridas Tomato loss...

Also...Florida's $9.1 billion citrus industry supplies 75% of the U.S. grapefruit market. With such a large loss of Grapefruit, prices are going to be high.

[Josephine96]

Which means consumers may not buy it if prices do go up

[bosag]

My ruby red grapefruit tree was so loaded w/ fruit, we had to prop the branches up. After both Francis and Jean I have 6 grapefruit left on the tree. We had just planted 2 orange and a lemon (all 2 ft tall), those got by w/out a scratch. Barb