Posts Tagged “Florida citrus shipments”
Whether you are looking to load citrus in California and Florida, or even Texas or Arizona, good volume is reported, along with strong demand.
The USDA reports domestic growers produced just over 5 million tons of citrus during the 2024-25 season, a slight drop from 2023-24.
California continues to account for a huge share at 84 percent, followed by Florida at 13 percent, and Texas and Arizona for the remaining 3 percent.
Although California orange production fell for season by nearly 1 percent to 45.2 million boxes, tangerine and mandarin volumes rose by 11 percent, while lemons and grapefruit increased by 5 percent each.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA represents citrus growers and notes navels continue to lead the pack, although easy peelers such as mandarins continue to gain popularity.
Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA sees strong demand and volume for its leading products, Navel oranges, lemons, and mandarins.
Wonderful Citrus Cooperative of Delano, CA is one of the largest volume players with citrus and is particularly excited about the growth of its mandarin easy peel Wonderful Halos.
The company also reports over the past five years it has seen excellent increases with lemons, which has been exceeded only by mandarins.
Kimball Produce Sales of Pacifica, CA reports lemons as it leading volume item, followed by California navels, Valencias, and limes.
On the down side, Wonderful Halos revealed strong weather problems in December and early January, including heavy rain and dense fog lasting nearly four weeks, created significant challenges across the citrus industry.
These conditions impacted crop yields and quality, contributing to lower overall production industrywide during the front half of the winter season.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. in Valencia, CA, describes recent times with large volume crops as competitive but encouraging, despite a challenging global marketplace and early-season weather-related disruptions.
For the current 2025-26 season, Sunkist report fruit size has been larger than prior years with Navel oranges running about 8 percent above 2024-25 as harvest ramps up, while Cara Cara oranges are showing a 12 percent crop increase.
In easy-peelers, Sunkist’s clementine mandarins were similarly up 19 percent versus the previous season. For lemons, the company is seeing strong volume gains across districts, supported by increased domestic and export movement.
The devastation of the freeze in Florida about a month ago is now being fully realized with the report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
From blueberries to strawberries and citrus, as well as sugar cane and vegetables, losses were heavy.
A preliminary estimate reveals $3.1 billion from winter’s freeze.
The strawberry and blueberry industries were the hardest hit, according to the report. The former suffered an estimated production loss of approximately 80 percent of the remaining harvest, which roughly translates into $306.9 million in losses.
As far as blueberries are concerned, the extreme cold killed floral buds, led to dropped fruit, and caused plant limbs to break under the weight of cold protection. Growers reported the freeze will not only affect this year’s harvest, but harvests for years to come, the FDACS notes.
Estimated production losses in the Florida blueberry industry preliminarily total 90 percent of the crop, translating to freeze damage valued at approximately $78.5 million.
Meanwhile, citrus, the Sunshine State’s most important crop, suffered the loss of 15 percent of its trees due to freeze damage, along with a huge financial blow estimated at $675 million.
The grand total encompasses tree and infrastructure damage, estimated at $327 million and $41.5 million, respectively, as well as total losses for damaged fruit totalling $85.2 million.
The FDACS report also includes a freeze-damage forecast, with losses calculated at $220.5 million.
The industry will face an average annual loss in productivity of 27 percent that will persist for several years before returning to pre-storm production, the state agency explains.
“It is estimated that 80 percent of the total acres of citrus in Florida were significantly affected by the freeze damage,” the report continued.
As a big vegetable producer, Florida also experienced great freeze losses in commodities such as snap beans, bell peppers, eggplants, artichokes, broccoli, and leafy greens, among others. The FDACS calculates that losses in this category amount to $554.6 million.
Tomato and bell pepper producers lost 80 percent of their crops right before the middle of the season, resulting in $164 million and $108 million in losses, respectively. Sweet corn losses, meanwhile, amount to $255 million and potatoes to $79.1 million.
Watermelons were also affected, with an estimated 33 percent production loss. With the entire growing season still ahead, the state agency estimated a financial blow of $65.4 million.
Florida is also a major sugarcane producer, with an industry worth $1.6 billion in 2025. The sector suffered a significant blow, as freeze damage will not only affect the current season crop, but those to come. Estimated production losses total 35 percent and are valued at $1.65 billion, with current-season losses of $576 million.
The first citrus production forecast for the 2025/2026 season, with projections showing a still depressed Florida citrus industry, has been released by the USDA.
The forecast reveals steady national numbers compared to last year, with a slight decline of two percent in total orange production. Numbers show the same drop in Valencia oranges, totaling 4.5 million boxes, and only a one percent drop in non-Valencian oranges, totaling 7.5 million boxes.
The state-by-state numbers show a bit more of a difference. According to the government agency, total orange production in Florida is expected to drop to a new record low of 12 million 90-pound boxes, down 200,000 boxes or 1.6 percent compared to last year.
This projection sets a downward trend for Florida citrus producers, who saw numbers drop dramatically since the 2023/2024 season, when production totaled a breakthrough 18 million boxes. Since then, extreme weather events and citrus greening disease have devastated the state’s once iconic citrus industry, which recorded its lowest numbers in over a century during the 2024/2025 season.
The breakdown is not gentler on Florida citrus growers, either—Valencia and non-Valencia oranges, as well as grapefruit are expected to be a million boxes short this season. Tangerine and mandarin production is forecast to remain steady with 400,000 boxes (down only 80 thousand from the 2022/2023 season), while lemon output will go up by 30,000 boxes compared to last year.
Regardless of these numbers, Florida Citrus Mutual is optimistic and emphasizes other fronts where the industry is seeing signs of a slow rebound.
“While this year’s initial crop estimate is lower than we would like, production is making steady gains on a per-acre basis and the industry is gaining confidence that we’re on the best path toward recovery as growers are reporting healthier trees and larger fruit,” he said.
The executive explained that innovative treatments, therapies and disease-tolerant trees are making “a real difference.”
In a statement, Florida Citrus Mutual noted that back in July the state received $140 million in state funds to support the local citrus industry. “More than $100 million was designated for research, field trials and planting disease-resistance varieties,” the document reads.
The Sunshine state also received USDA funding back in Thanksgiving, as the government agency pledged to buy $30 million of the state’s citrus through the end of 2025.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Florida Classic Growers of Dundee, FL has announced an outstanding start to the 2025–26 Florida citrus season, marked by exceptional fruit quality, and stronger yields.
“We are extremely pleased with the fruit quality this season,” said Derek Rodgers, Director of Sales and Marketing for Florida Classic Growers. “We’re seeing improved size, higher brix levels, and some of the best external appearance we’ve had in recent years. Our enhanced production practices are paying off in a big way.”
With the state avoiding major hurricane impacts so far this year, Florida Classic Growers is reporting a year-over-year increase in volume—an encouraging trend for both the company and the broader citrus industry.
“This is a very exciting time for Florida citrus and for Florida Classic Growers,” Rodgers added. “The combination of strong quality and increased availability is creating real momentum, and we’re eager to share that with our retail, wholesale, and foodservice partners.”
Florida Classic Growers is now entering peak season for grapefruit, navel oranges, and juice oranges.
About Florida Classic Growers
Florida Classic Growers, a division of Dundee Citrus Growers Association, is a leading marketer of premium Florida citrus, offering a full range of fresh grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, and specialty citrus to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers across the U.S. and abroad.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its June citrus forecast, projecting Florida’s all‑orange production at 12.0 million boxes, up 3% from May and down 34% from the 2023–24 season.
The updated outlook includes 4.6 million boxes of non‑Valencia oranges and 7.4 million boxes of Valencia varieties, reversing last month’s slight decline in non‑Valencia production and indicating growth in the Valencia segment.
Grapefruit production remains unchanged at 1.3 million boxes, divided between 1.16 million red and 0.14 million white grapefruit. Lemon and tangerine/mandarin forecasts also held steady at 600,000 and 400,000 boxes, respectively.
Production in the 2023-24 season had seen a rare 10% year-on-year rise.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March 2025 crop forecast estimates an output of 11.6 million boxes of oranges and 1.2 million boxes of grapefruit in Florida this month, a slight increase in production since February’s projection.
The positive news offers what Matt Joyner, CEO at Florida Citrus Mutual, called “a glimmer of hope” that production may be on the road to recovery after the setbacks the state’s industry has suffered, including several hurricanes and the ever-present citrus greening.
In a press release by the organization, Joyner added that “with continued resources from the state and federal levels, Florida citrus growers can preserve Florida’s citrus legacy as the iconic symbol of our state, providing jobs and shaping our culture for more than a century.”
The statement also urged the citrus industry, academia, and the government to join forces in the fight to preserve the industry and emphasized the importance of investing in solutions.
“On February 3, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the proposed Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget for 2025-2026 ahead of this year’s legislative session, which includes more than $20 million for the Citrus Health Response Program and other citrus research,” the press release stated. “Of the $20 million, $7 million is for advertising and additional research through the Florida Department of Citrus to increase the production of trees and advance technologies that produce a tree resistant to citrus greening.”
On a lighter note, Joyner mentioned that disease-resistant varieties have surfaced in the last two years, giving growers hope of increasing their citrus production.
The USDA’s citrus forecast for February shows that the Florida citrus industry continues to struggle. Production volumes for all categories are projected to drop year over year.
The state’s all-orange forecast, released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board, is 11.5 million boxes, down 500,000 from the January forecast. This represents a 36% drop from last season’s final production.
The forecast consists of 4.50 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 7.00 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
The report indicates that Valencia oranges’ current fruit size is below average and is projected to remain below average at harvest.
For non-Valencia oranges, the Row Count survey conducted January 28-29, 2025, showed 95% of the early and mid-season rows, excluding Navels, are harvested.
Grapefruit forecast
With 62% of the grapefruit rows harvested, the report shows that overall grapefruit production is forecast to be down 100,000 boxes from January. Total grapefruit output is expected to be 1.10 million boxes, down from last season’s 1.78 million.
However, white and red grapefruit’s final size are above average.
The total lemon output is forecast at 600,000 boxes, carried over from the January forecast.
Tangerines and Mandarins
Even though the forecast for tangerines and tangelos increased by 50,000 boxes from the January forecast, the total output expected for the season is still 22% lower than the 450,000 boxes during the previous season.
The U.S. citrus crop looked promising in recent weeks with overall good quality for the 2024-25 shipping season.
Total U.S. volume of oranges was forecast at 60.3 million boxes, down slightly from 61.5 million boxes last season, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service January forecast, conducted in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Grapefruit volume was forecast at 7.4 million boxes, down from 8.5 million last year, and the lemon forecast was at 27.5 million boxes, up slightly from 27.2 million last season.
In the tangerines/mandarins category, volume for the current season was estimated to be 25.3 million boxes, up from about 24 million boxes last year.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA reports a good crop this year.
California’s early-season navel oranges were smaller than usual because hot summertime temperatures extended into October.
Growers had to size-pick to meet market demand.
CCM reports average to slightly above-average rainfall in Northern California helped improve size a bit as the season progressed, but citrus, as well as other commodities, were a little on the smaller size.
The 2024-25 California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report from the California Department of Food and Agriculture forecast the current season’s volume in the Golden State to be 78 million 40-pound cartons, up 2% from last year.
Florida Citrus Mutual of Lakeland, FL reports shipments are progressing. despite Hurricane Milton which blew across 70% of the state’s most productive citrus acreage in October. The Florida citrus industry remains in a recovery mode.
There’s not as much fruit available because of the hurricane, but the quality is good, he said. FCM reported.
USDA expected to see 7 million 90-pound boxes of valencia oranges out of Florida this season and 5 million boxes of non-valencias.
USDA forecast about 1 million 85-pound boxes of grapefruit from Florida, with about 500,000 boxes of specialty citrus, including lemons.
Texas, where red grapefruit accounts for up to 65% of the citrus crop, continues to rebound from a hurricane in 2020, a freeze in 2021 and a series of droughts, reports Texas Citrus Mutual of Mission, TX.
The crop is about 50% of average is.
Quality, size and prices are all good this year.
USDA forecast the Texas 2024-25 grapefruit crop at 1.2 million 80-pound boxes, down from about 1.8 million last year, and estimated the orange crop to be 900,000 90-pound boxes, down from about 1.1 million last year.
The Florida citrus December forecast by the USDA places crop at levels which haven’t been this low in 100 years.
Orange production was lowered by 20 percent and grapefruit by 14 percent from the October forecast, which takes into account the damage from Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida in early October.
The 2024-2025 Florida all orange forecast from the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 12.0 million boxes, down 20 percent from the October forecast of 15.0 million. If realized, this will be 33 percent less than last season’s final production. The forecast consists of 5 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 7 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
The forecast for Florida grapefruit production is 1.20 million boxes, down 200,000 boxes from the October forecast. If realized, this will be 33 percent less than last season’s final production. Red grapefruit, at 1.05 million boxes, is lowered 150,000 boxes from the October forecast. White grapefruit is forecast down 50,000 boxes to 150,000 boxes.
Florida citrus production has been dropping for years due to various causes, including weather, disease, changing consumption, and residential and commercial property demand.
According to USDA, there were 248,000 acres of oranges in 2024, down from 665,000 in 2000, and grapefruit acreage amounted to 14,000 in 2024, down from 118,000 in 2000.
Florida’s citrus industry peaked in the 1997-98 season with 244 million boxes of oranges. This year’s orange crop would be 5 percent of the peak.
Florida citrus shipments will be off this season compared to last year because of some major hurricanes and storms. How much of a decline remains to be seen.
Category 3 Hurricane Milton, hit Florida on Oct. 10, and barrelled through nearly 70% of the state’s most productive citrus counties, reported Florida Citrus Mutual of Bartow, FL.
The storm arrived just before harvest, making the fruit highly susceptible to the strong winds, causing substantial fruit drop and damaging trees.
During the 2023-24 season, Florida’s citrus growers produced 17.97 million boxes of oranges, 1.79 million boxes of grapefruit and 450,000 boxes of tangelos and tangerines for a total of about 20.2 million boxes — an increase from 15.85 million boxes during the 2022-23 season, according to Citrus Mutual.
USDA’s first crop estimate of the 2024-25 harvest season released Oct. 11 forecast 15 million boxes of oranges, 1.4 million boxes of grapefruit and 400,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos — a total of 16.8 million boxes. However, the estimate was released before Hurricane Milton made landfall. Future forecasts are expected to reflect a reduction in production.
The biggest impact in Central Florida came from Hurricane Milton, reports the 100-year-old Dundee Citrus Growers Association, Dundee, FL, parent company of Florida Classic Growers Inc., which also handles U.S. and Canadian marketing for Riverfront Packing, Vero Beach, FL.
Milton knocked a lot of fruit on the ground, tipped some trees over and did some damage to the operation’s packinghouse.
Some groves with navel oranges and hamlin juice oranges lost over half their crop, but it could have been worse, the company noted.
Dundee Fruit is still running pretty steady right, because it has a fair amount of citrus under protective screens protecting against fruit damage.
Feek Family Citrus and DLF Packing in Fort Pierce, FL, were fortunate.
The company lost 20% to 30% of its fall crop, mostly navel oranges, but did not experience any storm damage to its packinghouse.
The company’s main crop of valencia oranges should start shipping after the holidays and will continue from storage into July.
The firm is finished building a new cooler and should have new offices ready sometime in December. The new facility occupies 35,000 square feet and will be an addition to its existing packinghouse.