Posts Tagged “California citrus”
California’s citrus acreage showed mixed changes across major categories in 2026, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report was released on August 5 following a survey of approximately 4,300 citrus growers.
Detailed acreage data show that lemons had 52,866 acres standing in 2026, comprising 51,803 bearing and 1,063 non-bearing acres. This compares with 52,725 total acres in 2024, when 49,770 acres were bearing, and 2,954 were non-bearing.
Navel and miscellaneous oranges remained the largest category, with 110,461 acres standing in 2026, including 108,587 bearing and 1,874 non-bearing acres. This was down from 112,366 total acres in 2024. Valencia orange acreage declined from 25,297 acres in 2024 to 24,589 acres in 2026.
Mandarins and hybrids totaled 68,536 acres in 2026, consisting of 66,802 bearing and 1,734 non-bearing acres, compared with 68,830 total acres in 2024. Among varieties, Tango accounted for 20,243 acres, including 19,383 bearing and 860 non-bearing acres. W. Murcott Afourer totaled 9,898 acres, while Clementines accounted for 15,500 acres.
Grapefruit acreage, excluding pummelos and hybrids, decreased from 9,053 acres in 2024 to 8,443 acres in 2026. Pummelos and hybrids moved in the opposite direction, increasing from 1,262 acres to 1,964 acres.
The statewide bearing acreage estimates for the 2024-25 season were 9,300 acres for grapefruit, 54,000 for lemons, 110,000 for Navel and miscellaneous oranges, 25,000 for Valencia oranges, and 68,000 for tangerines and mandarins. The report notes that these statewide estimates include an allowance for incomplete survey responses and therefore differ from the detailed acreage figures.
While the initial arrival of blueberries from Argentina has arrived by air, regular arrivals by boat at U.S. ports will be more common during the season….Meanwhile a California stone fruit shipper is shipping citrus for the first time.
The initial load of Argentina blueberries, which was over 50 tons, flew out of Tucuman’s renovated airport September 23rd. The Teniente General Benjamín Matienzo International Airport outside of Tucumans was closed over the summer for the runway to be reconstructed and extended from 2,900 meters to 3,500 meters. Member producers of the Argentinean Blueberry Committee, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s blueberry exports, celebrated the loading of 53 tons of berries on a Boeing 747 bound for Miami, according to a news release.
“We are pleased to be able to carry out the first full-load export of blueberries to the U.S., and we expect to continue in this direction, strengthening the (export) market,” Federico Bayá, the committee’s president, said in the release.
The airport renovations also included infrastructure and equipment improvements making loading commercial shipments smoother and safer. But the big change is the extended runway, which allows for a heavier load than was previously possible.
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by Bee Sweet Citrus
FOWLER, Calif., – Bee Sweet Citrus Sales Manager Joe Berberian welcomes the start of Bee Sweet’s 2017 summer import program.
“Bee Sweet Citrus is grower, packer and shipper of premium California citrus,” said Berberian. “While our domestic season has come to an end, we can continue to provide exceptional citrus to our consumers through our summer import program.”
For over 15 years, Bee Sweet Citrus has been developing close ties with both Chilean and Peruvian citrus growers. In order to ensure that all imported products are safe, fresh and of high quality, the Bee Sweet Citrus Food Safety and Quality Control team ensure that all products are certified and audited in food safety, social accountability and sustainability.
“All imported citrus is sent straight to our facility where it’s re-graded to ensure the high quality,” said Bee Sweet Citrus Sales Representative Jason Sadoian. “Additionally, we offer our customers the ability to repack and reconfigure the fruit to any specific pack style that they may want during the program.”
Between May and October, Bee Sweet Citrus receives imported Clementines, Navel Oranges, Cara Caras, Minneolas and lemons. In addition, the Bee Sweet Citrus sales team handles all import clearance, logistics, inventory and conducts weekly market analysis calls with their international partners.
About Bee Sweet Citrus
A grower, packer and shipper of California citrus, the company was founded in 1987> It is a family owned and operated company, and ships over 20 different varieties of citrus.
Apple Shipments
Thanks to a large amount of red delicious and gala apples, May 1 fresh market apples remaining to be shipped to at 38.7 million cartons, up 16% from a year ago and 7% more than the five-year average of 36 million cartons.
The U.S. Apple Association reported fresh market holdings on May 1 were 38.7 million cartons, up from 33.4 million cartons in 2016 but down from 44.9 million cartons to 2015.
Washington fresh apples in storage stood at 35.9 million cartons, which accounted for 93% of total U.S. fresh supplies.