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Florida Department of Citrus - Production Is Up a Bit, But "Nowhere Near Where We Once Were"

Image Grove DSC 0037
Photo courtesy Florida Department of Citrus
Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shepp - “Given everything this industry has been through ... 40 million boxes of oranges is something to be proud of."

Florida - Wednesday May 18, 2022: The May citrus report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that Florida orange production will hit more than 40 million boxes this growing season. That is 2 million more boxes than last month’s projected harvest, but it’s still a far cry from Florida’s citrus hay-day.

According to the report Florida’s All Orange production is up 5 percent from April and Valencia orange production is up 10 percent, but Grapefruit production is down 6 percent.

* All Orange Production is Up 5 percent from April
* Non-Valencia Orange Production Unchanged
* Valencia Orange Production Up 10 Percent
* All Grapefruit Production Down 6 Percent
* All Tangerine and Tangelo Unchanged

Following the USDA’s May citrus report Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shepp posted a release on the Department's website saying - “Given everything this industry has been through over the past several years, particularly with the weather, 40 million boxes of oranges is something to be proud of."

Yet despite the modest increase in overall production, it’s still the lowest projected citrus harvest since the 1930s. Weather, urban development, rival imports and citrus canker have all devastated the industry in recent decades.

"We are nowhere near where we once were," said Shepp, but "Florida Citrus remains a vital and significant player in the State’s economy and that won’t change any time soon,” she concluded.