NASS: Orange Crop Slightly Smaller

With Florida's orange harvest starting to wind down, the latest USDA crop production forecast for the all-US crop for this season, reveals a 2% month-over-month decrease and down 6% from last marketing year final utilization.

"Our Valencia oranges are down two million boxes it was 48 million and now it's 38 million and the non-valencias of course the season's done and the Valencia season is winding down at this point in time," said NASS' Mark Hudson.

When it comes to a year-over-year comparison of Florida's Valencia crop, "One thing that really changes the level is the number of trees which for Valencia oranges kind of stabilized," Hudson continued. "But I think it's the size of the drop and a few other things. It's certainly comparable to the previous season, and much higher than two seasons ago when we had hurricane Irma."

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com