Florida’s grapefruit crop has recovered since last year’s hurricane-ravaged season, but volumes are still dramatically down compared with 2003-2004.
The US Department of Agriculture estimates Florida’s 2005-2006 grapefruit production to be 24 million 85lb boxes (925,00 tonnes), compared with 13 million in 2004-2005 and 41 million the year before that.
The lower crop is primarily due to the root disease canker, which is believed to have blown in on hurricane winds (The Grocer, October 15, p66).
But trees yielding less fruit than usual due to last
season’s hurricanes as well as urban development on orchards have also eaten into output.
Mike Yetter, director of international marketing at the Florida Department of Citrus, said growers felt
they had struck a happy medium between the bumper crop in 2003-2004, which depressed prices, and last year’s harvest.
“It’s a very manageable crop. In 2003-04 there was so much fruit produced that some had to be abandoned.
“This year Florida producers will sell all their crop, with 50% going to fresh, and 50% going to juice production.
“Prices will be firm - a little lower than last year but higher than two years ago.”
About 65% of the fresh crop is expected to be exported, with around 5 million cartons earmarked for shipping to European countries.
But the crop is running three to four weeks later than usual, due to a late bloom period in the spring.
Fruit size is projected to remain below normal, but distribution will be good, with fruit available in a variety of sizes. Some 70% will be coloured, 30% white.
Yetter said that the Florida Department of Citrus was confident it would eradicate the canker, but stated that over the short term annual harvests were expected to settle at around the 25 million carton mark.
Richard Clarke
The US Department of Agriculture estimates Florida’s 2005-2006 grapefruit production to be 24 million 85lb boxes (925,00 tonnes), compared with 13 million in 2004-2005 and 41 million the year before that.
The lower crop is primarily due to the root disease canker, which is believed to have blown in on hurricane winds (The Grocer, October 15, p66).
But trees yielding less fruit than usual due to last
season’s hurricanes as well as urban development on orchards have also eaten into output.
Mike Yetter, director of international marketing at the Florida Department of Citrus, said growers felt
they had struck a happy medium between the bumper crop in 2003-2004, which depressed prices, and last year’s harvest.
“It’s a very manageable crop. In 2003-04 there was so much fruit produced that some had to be abandoned.
“This year Florida producers will sell all their crop, with 50% going to fresh, and 50% going to juice production.
“Prices will be firm - a little lower than last year but higher than two years ago.”
About 65% of the fresh crop is expected to be exported, with around 5 million cartons earmarked for shipping to European countries.
But the crop is running three to four weeks later than usual, due to a late bloom period in the spring.
Fruit size is projected to remain below normal, but distribution will be good, with fruit available in a variety of sizes. Some 70% will be coloured, 30% white.
Yetter said that the Florida Department of Citrus was confident it would eradicate the canker, but stated that over the short term annual harvests were expected to settle at around the 25 million carton mark.
Richard Clarke
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