Florida is experiencing its lowest citrus crop ever. As the second-largest citrus-producing state, the decline is having a big impact on USDA’s orange production report.
Mark Hudson with USDA’s NASS says Florida’s production is expected to be down by 33 percent compared to last year.
“If this current forecast is realized, it’ll be the smallest crop since 8.95 million boxes in the 1929-1930 season back before they had irrigation. Our bearing trees are down, our fruit per tree is down, our size is small and our drop is high then we have Hurricane Milton come through.”
These Florida production declines contribute to the five percent drop from the October forecast.
