California orange shipments should hit 59.5 million cartons this season, up from 57.5 million boxes a year ago. The increase in available loads will be from early and midseason navels. Valencia shipments, which will come next year as the navel season is ending, should experience a slight decline.
Shipments of California lemons is predicted to remain about the same as last year.
This year’s California navel orange crop, estimated at 93 million cartons, should be slightly larger than last year’s estimated 89 million cartons.
Shipments navel shipmens should begin in early November, with good loading opportunities arriving around the middle of the month.
The fresh produce industry has a history of becoming too anxious to get started shipping – and in fact some shipper take pride in being the first to ship a vegetable or fruit from their district. The problem lies in the fact that too often produce is shipped before it is mature as the shipper seeks to get in on a high market. Cudos to the California citrus growers. In an effort to provide end users with a better-eating piece of fruit than in past years, the state’s growers have agreed to implement what they’re calling the California Standard.
That means some growers may have to hold onto their fruit a bit longer than usual until it meets a specific maturity — and taste — standard.
Not only should this mean more pleased consumers — consumer that will more likely make repeat purchases — but it could also reduce claims and deductions at the receiving end.
Arizona lemon shipments are expected to nearly double from 800,000 cartons to 1.7 million cartons.