WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast U.S. 2012-13 orange production at 8,679,000 tons (200 million boxes), down 110,000 tons, or 1%, from 8,789,000 tons forecast in February and down 338,000 tons, or 4%, from 9,017,000 tons in 2011-12.
The U.S.D.A. forecast Florida orange production at 6,255,000 tons (139 million 90-lb boxes), down 1% from the February forecast of 6,345,000 tons and down 342,000 tons, or 5%, from 6,597,000 tons in 2011-12. The California crop was forecast at 2,360,000 tons (59 million 80-lb boxes), down 1% from the prior forecast but unchanged from a year earlier. Texas orange production was forecast at 64,000 tons, also unchanged from February but up 4,000 tons from 60,000 tons a year earlier.
Florida’s frozen concentrated orange juice yield was forecast at 1.61 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 1% from 1.62 gallons per box forecast in February and down 1% from last season’s final yield of 1.63 gallons, the U.S.D.A. said.
