Citrus production in the state of Florida reached 159.3 million boxes in the 2009-10 season, a 16% drop compared with the previous year, the USDA said in a crop production report.

In all Florida accounted for 65% of the US total citrus production. Fruit production fell as a whole for all citrus categories except for tangerines.

Orange production fell 18% to 133.5 million cartons. Production of the Navel variety reached 2.3 million cartons, down 23% compared with  the previous two seasons and the lowest since the 1985-86 season. Grapefruit production also fell, to 20.3 million cartons, a drop of 6%. The main exception to the drop were Honey Tangerines, for which production grew 69% compared with last year.

However the market value of the citrus crop held at US$1.054 billion, a 1% rise compared wtih 2008-09.

For the 2010-11 season industry, analysts expect a recovery of harvest numbers that suffered this year from a frost in January.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com