Orange Production Unchanged from January Forecast
The United States all orange forecast for the 2013-2014 season is 7.39 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 11 percent from the 2012-2013 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 115 million boxes (5.18 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 14 percent from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 54.0 million boxes (2.43 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 20 percent from last season. The Row Count Survey conducted on January 28-29, 2014, showed about 75 percent of the Early-Midseason rows and 87 percent of the Navel rows had been harvested. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 61.0 million boxes (2.75 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 8 percent from last season's final utilization. California and Texas forecasts are carried forward from January.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2013-2014 season is 1.61 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from the January forecast but up 1 percent from last season's final yield of 1.59 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is projected at 1.53 gallons per box, up 1 percent from last season's yield of 1.51 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.69 gallons per box, unchanged from last year's final yield. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.
Source: USDA