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USDA: Florida's Orange Crop To Be Smaller This Year

Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE

Kevin Metheny, CFO of Florida Citrus Mutal, goes over figures during a breakfast as citrus farmers gathered to hear the USDA's citrus crop forecast released Friday morning.

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

Updated: 10/10/2008 10:21 pm

BARTOW - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said today that Florida's orange crop may be slightly smaller than last year's yield.

USDA forecasters expect Florida growers to produce 166 million boxes of oranges this season, 2.5 percent less than last season. Despite the expected drop in production, inventories will be large enough to meet consumer demand at affordable prices, industry leaders said.

"That is a good-size, manageable crop," said Michael Sparks, chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual, a growers' organization. "It should be very good news for consumers. We have a huge inventory."

The early-midseason-navel crop was expected to be 88 million boxes, up 5 percent from in 2007. The Valencia crop is expected to drop 9 percent to 78 million boxes.

Hurricanes, crop diseases and disappearing grove land have contributed to huge production drop-offs in the past few years. In turn, consumers have been paying record prices for orange juice.

California's crop also is expected to decline, from 48.5 million boxes to 32 million this year.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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