Orange Production Up Slightly from March Forecast
The United States all orange forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 6.68 million tons, up slightly from the previous forecast but down 1 percent from the revised 2013-2014 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 102 million boxes (4.59 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 3 percent from last season's revised final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 47.0 million boxes (2.12 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 12 percent last season's final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 55.0 million boxes (2.48 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 7 percent from last season's revised final utilization.
The California Valencia orange forecast is 10.0 million boxes (400,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 7 percent from last season's revised final utilization. The California Navel orange forecast is 40.0 million boxes (1.60 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but up 3 percent from last season's revised final utilization. The Texas all orange forecast, at 2.18 million boxes (93,000 tons), is up 8 percent from the previous forecast and up 23 percent from last season's final utilization.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 1.54 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 1 percent from the March forecast and down 2 percent from last season's final yield of 1.57 gallons per box. The non-Valencia portion is finalized at 1.42 gallons per box, down 2 percent from last month and down 7 percent from last season's yield. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.65 gallons, unchanged from last month's forecast but up slightly from last season's final yield of 1.64 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