Overall Increase in Citrus Harvest

WASHINGTON - Apr 9/08 - SNS -- Total citrus fruit production will be up in the United States year as larger orange and tangerine harvests offsets declines in the size of the U.S. grapefruit and lemon crops, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

The forecast of the 2007-08 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.47 million tons, down 1% from the March 1 forecast and 10% lower than the previous season. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 24.5 million boxes (1.04 million tons), unchanged from the March forecast but 10% below last season.

The all white grapefruit forecast is 7.50 million boxes (319,000 tons), the same as March's forecast but 19% below last season's final utilization. Florida's colored grapefruit forecast, at 17.0 million boxes (723,000 tons), is unchanged from the March forecast but 5% below the 2006-07 final utilization.

Nearly 75% of the rows observed this month in the row count survey were harvested with highest harvest percents noted in the southern and western areas of the State. Over 85% of the survey rows were located in the Indian River District, where 75% of the rows were harvested.

The Texas grapefruit forecast, at 6.40 million boxes (256,000 tons), is 3% lower than the January 1 forecast and 10% less than the previous season. Grapefruit harvest was nearly complete and the groves looked good.

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