US citrus production expected to fall further in 2017/18

U.S. citrus production continues to decline. 

 

At the current forecast of 6.16 million tons for the 2017/18 marketing year, ERS expects the U.S. citrus crop to drop 21 percent from the previous season. 

 

The decline reflects expected reductions in national production across all major citrus commodities and overall smaller crops in the four major-producing States (Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona). 

 

The drop in citrus production is expected to be the greatest in Florida, largely driven by crop losses from Hurricane Irma. 

 

At the same time, orange and grapefruit crops are anticipated to have the largest declines in national citrus output, with reductions of as much as 25 percent and 22 percent, respectively, if realized. 

 

Tight supplies have pushed citrus prices higher in the domestic market. 

 

January 2018 prices for fresh oranges, grapefruit, and lemons were at their highest average levels for the month since the 1990s. 

 

The long term downward trend in orange production is largely attributable to citrus greening disease, a bacterial disease that can ultimately kill orange trees. 

 

The majority of citrus farms in Florida have been battling the disease since the mid-2000s.