WASHINGTON — In its initial report for the new season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Oct. 10 gave its forecast of 2014-15 U.S. orange production at 160,472,000 boxes, up 3% from 156,376,000 boxes in 2013-14. Total U.S. orange production in tons for 2014-15 was forecast at 6,963,810 tons compared with 6,782,480 tons in 2013-14.
The U.S.D.A. forecast Florida orange production at 108 million 90-lb boxes (4,860,000 tons), up 3% from 104.6 million boxes (4,707,000 tons) in 2013-14. The U.S.D.A. said citrus growing conditions were near ideal from the start of the citrus bloom in March to the beginning of the 2014-15 harvest season.
New York frozen concentrated orange juice futures tumbled to their lowest settlement in 8½ months after the U.S.D.A. predicted Florida will produce a larger-than-expected crop during the harvest season that began Oct. 1.
Florida’s frozen concentrated orange juice yield was forecast at 1.60 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, up 2% from last season’s final yield of 1.57 gallons, the U.S.D.A. said.
The California orange crop was forecast at 50.5 million 80-lb boxes (2,020,000 tons), up slightly from 50 million 80-lb boxes (2,000,000 tons) a year earlier. The Texas crop was forecast at 1,972,000 85-lb boxes (83,810 tons), up 11% from 1,776,000 85-lb boxes (75,480 tons) in 2013-14, the U.S.D.A. said.
