Florida’s citrus industry has been battered by two storms this season. It comes as the industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, including disease and weather.
In fact, orange juice prices are up 270% compared to three years ago.
Growers prepared for Milton as best they could, but there’s little they could do for trees in terms of tying them down. The timing is devastating, as some are just a month away from harvest.
The Florida Farm Bureau has a Hurricane Milton Resource Page which includes key documents for the the agriculture community.
The third-largest citrus-producing state in the country is off to a strong start this fall.
With harvest ramping up the Texas citrus crop looks good after facing hard freezes in 2021 and earlier this year. Drought has also been a concern. Despite the trying conditions Texas fruit size and quantity are expected to be similar to last year’s.
USDA’s first citrus crop forecast for the season is scheduled to be released this Friday.
