Orange Production Down 1 Percent from March
The United States all orange forecast for the 2012-2013 season is 8.60 million tons, down 1 percent from the previous forecast and down 4 percent from the revised 2011-2012 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 138 million boxes (6.21 million tons), is down 1 percent from the March forecast and down 6 percent from last season's revised final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 67.0 million boxes (3.02 million tons), unchanged from the March forecast but down 10 percent from last season. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 71.0 million boxes (3.20 million tons), is down 1 percent from the March forecast and down 2 percent from last season's revised final utilization.Drought conditions persisted in Florida during March.
The California all orange forecast is 58.0 million boxes (2.32 million tons), down 2 percent from the previous forecast and down 1 percent from last season's revised final utilization. The California Navel orange forecast is 45.5 million boxes (1.82 million tons), down 2 percent from the previous forecast but unchanged from last season. The California Valencia orange forecast is 12.5 million boxes (500,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 4 percent from last season's revised final utilization. Harvest of Navel oranges continued during March, while Valencia orange harvest began. The Texas all orange forecast, at 1.56 million boxes (67,000 tons), is up 3 percent from the previous forecast and up 10 percent from last season's final utilization.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2012-2013 season is 1.61 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from the March forecast but down 1 percent from last season's final yield of 1.63 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is final at 1.51 gallons per box, down 1 percent from last season's final yield of 1.53 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.71 gallons per box, 2 percent lower than last year's final yield of 1.75 gallons per box. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.
Source: USDA