The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its first outlook for 2024-25 harvest of citrus, which indicates that the coming year will be a difficult one for the Florida’s citrus farmers. According to USDA outlook, the projection estimates that the harvest will include 15 million orange boxes, 1.4 million boxes of grapefruit, and 200,000 containers of the tangerines as well as tangelos. The forecast puts the production of oranges in Florida more than 3 million less than the previous season’s numbers, which is in line with a decline in production.

Florida Citrus Mutual has voiced concern about the forecast and stressed the need for assistance in reversing the downward trend. “The outlook for this season is very disappointing,” stated Matt Joyner the executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual. The company emphasized the effects of Hurricane Milton and the constant battle against greening in the citrus groves, and noted the brief time of optimism regarding the health of the grove just prior to the storm’s arrival.

Looking back at the peak of the industry in the 1990s where production topped 244 million oranges, the forecast for this year is only a portion of production in the past. The press release issued by Florida Citrus Mutual emphasizes the significance of research and advocacy in reviving the industry. In spite of the difficulties posed by the recent storms and overgrown growing greening in the citrus industry, Joyner affirmed the resilience of Florida’s citrus farmers and also the importance of supporting in order to help them recover and grow.

The source: Florida Politics