Orange Production Unchanged from January Forecast
The United States all orange forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 5.25 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 18 percent from the 2014-2015 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 69.0 million boxes (3.11 million tons), is unchanged from last month’s forecast but down 29 percent from last season’s final utilization.
Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 36.0 million boxes (1.62 million tons), unchanged from last month but down 24 percent from last season’s final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 33.0 million boxes (1.49 million tons), is unchanged from last month but down 33 percent from last season’s final utilization. California and Texas orange production forecasts were carried forward from the previous forecast.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 1.45 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 3 percent from the January forecast and last season’s final yield of 1.50 gallons per box. The early and midseason portion is projected at 1.35 gallons per box, down 2 percent from last month and down 5 percent from last season’s final yield of 1.42 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.60 gallons per box, down 3 percent from the January forecast but up 1 percent from last year’s final yield of 1.58 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