Feb. 8 - The U.S. all orange forecast for the 2007-08 season is 9.92 million tons, down 1 percent from the January 1 forecast but 31 percent higher than the 2006-07 final utilization of 7.59 million tons.
Florida’s all orange forecast, at 166 million boxes (7.47 million tons), is down 1 percent from the previous forecast but 29 percent higher than last season’s final utilization of 129 million boxes. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 81.0 million boxes (3.65 million tons), unchanged from January 1 but 23 percent above last season. Harvest for the early and midseason varieties peaked in the third and fourth weeks of January. Florida’s Valencia forecast, at 85.0 million boxes (3.83 million tons), is 2 percent lower than the last forecast but 34 percent higher than 2006-07. Average fruit sizes for Valencia oranges are very small and are expected to be smaller at harvest than the minimum of the last eight non-hurricane seasons. Florida citrus regions experienced relatively warm weather during January, with average rainfall in the north and less than average rainfall in the central and southern areas.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2007-08 season is 1.62 gallons per box at 2.0 degrees Brix, up from 1.60 last month, but 2 percent lower than last season’s final yield. The early-mid portion remains at 1.53 gallons per box, 2 percent below last season’s final of 1.56 gallons per box. The Valencia portion increased to 1.70 gallons per box, 4 percent lower than last season’s final of 1.77 gallons per box. All yield projections include the assumption that the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.