USDA: Citrus fruits 2017 summary
Citrus utilized production for the 2016-17 season totaled 7.77 million tons, down 11 percent from the 2015-16 season and 56 percent lower than the record high production of 17.8 million tons for the 1997-98 season.
Citrus utilized production down 11 percent, value up slightly
Citrus utilized production for the 2016-17 season totaled 7.77 million tons, down 11 percent from the 2015-16 season and 56 percent lower than the record high production of 17.8 million tons for the 1997-98 season. California totaled 51 percent of total United States citrus production; Florida accounted for 45 percent, while Texas and Arizona produced the remaining 4 percent.
Utilized citrus production in California decreased 6 percent from the 2015-16 season. California’s all orange production, at 50.3 million boxes, is 14 percent lower than the previous season. Grapefruit production is up 5 percent from the 2015-16 season and tangerine and mandarin production is up 10 percent.
Florida’s orange production, at 68.8 million boxes, is down 16 percent from the previous season. Grapefruit utilization in Florida, at 7.76 million boxes, is down 28 percent from last season’s utilization. Florida’s total citrus utilization decreased 17 percent from the previous season. Bearing citrus acreage, at 410,700 acres, is 24,600 acres below the 2015-16 season.
The value of the 2016-17 United States citrus crop increased slightly from last season, to $3.44 billion (packinghouse- door equivalent). Total value of production for 2016-17 is higher for lemons and for tangerines and mandarins. Orange value of production decreased 4 percent from last season and grapefruit value is down 2 percent. Tangerine and mandarin value of production is 15 percent higher than last season (if tangelos were included) and lemon value of production is up 2 percent. Beginning in 2016-2017, tangelos are included in tangerines and mandarins for Florida.
Overall comparisons discussed above are based on similar fruit types. The revised production and utilization estimates are based on all data available at the end of the marketing season, including information from marketing orders, shipments, and processor records. Allowances are made for recorded local utilization and home use. Estimates for the 2016-17 California Valencia oranges and grapefruit are preliminary, since the marketing season is not complete at publication time. Revisions to the utilized production estimates for all citrus for the 2016-17 season will be published in the April 2018 Crop Production.