Orange Production Up 2 Percent from February Forecast
The United States all orange forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 5.36 million tons, up 2 percent from the previous forecast but down 16 percent from the 2014-2015 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 71.0 million boxes (3.20 million tons), is up 3 percent from last month's forecast but down 27 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 35.0 million boxes (1.58 million tons), is up 6 percent from last month but down 29 percent from last season's final utilization.
The California Valencia orange forecast is 10.5 million boxes (420,000 tons), up 5 percent from previous forecast and up 11 percent from the previous season. This results in a California all orange forecast of 52.5 million boxes (2.10 million tons), up 1 percent from the previous forecast. Objective survey measurements taken during January and February indicated that fruit set per tree was higher than the previous year and the most since 2010, but the measured average fruit size was slightly below the previous year. The forecast for Texas is 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, unchanged from the February forecast but down 3 percent from last season's final yield of 1.50 gallons per box. The early and midseason portion is final at 1.35 gallons per box, unchanged from last month but 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, unchanged from the February 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