St. Petersburg, Dec. 10 (BNA): Orange production in Florida this season is expected to drop 36% from a previous estimate, in part a reflection of twin hurricanes that hit growing regions, according to USDA figures released Friday.
The latest forecast calls for about 18 million orange boxes produced in 2022-23 in the state, compared to the agency’s estimate of 28 million in October that did not take into account damage caused by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, according to the Associated Press (AP). mentioned.
Agriculture officials said the latest numbers show a 56% drop in orange production in Florida compared to last season. The boxes generally weigh about 90 pounds (40 kilograms).
Other citrus crops are also expected to decline, with production of grapefruit coming in 200,000 boxes less than expected in October and 100,000 fewer boxes of tangerines and tangelos.
The drop in orange production would make the 2022-23 season one of the lowest since World War II. The harvest was 41 million boxes in 2021-2022 and over 67 million in the season before that.
“That’s a punch to the gut. There’s no question about it,” said Matt Joyner, CEO of the Florida Citrus Mutual Trade Association.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Hurricane Ian damaged about 375,000 acres (152,000 hectares) of commercial citrus when it struck the state in late September. While Nicole caused much less damage, it also struck some of the same areas in November
For consumers, this already means higher prices for orange juice, the main product made from Florida oranges. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that juice and non-alcoholic beverage prices are 57% higher in 2022 than in 1997.
This means that food companies will likely need to increase imports of oranges from countries such as Brazil and Turkey. California orange production for 2022-23 is projected to reach 47 million boxes, far exceeding Florida’s total projected production.
In Florida, overall agricultural losses from Hurricane Ian have been linked to at least $1.56 billion, according to the University of Florida. In total, after accounting for livestock, vegetables, and other agricultural interests, the Category 4 hurricane affected about 5 million acres (2 million ha) in the state.
Before the storm, citrus production in Florida was already projected to be down a third from the previous year, due in part to winter freezes and persistent disease problems. Farmers say hurricanes are another hurdle to overcome.
“If you eat, you’re part of the farming,” Roy Pettiway, a fifth-generation Florida native, said during a recent tour of his orchards. “We were expecting a very good harvest this year. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s just devastating.”
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