World: Citrus harvest is expected to drop 1% in the Northern Hemisphere

The first forecasts for the 2020/21 citrus campaign of the World Citrus Organization (WCO) point to a total harvest of 28,737,570 tonnes in the Northern Hemisphere, which represents a decrease of 1% compared to the previous citrus campaign. According to WCO, this decrease "is the result of the alternation in some countries compared to last year, as well as the impact of droughts in several productive regions in the Northern Hemisphere".

Most categories of citrus fruit should therefore show a reduction (-2% in orange, -7% in lemon and -9% in grapefruit), with the exception of mandarin / clementine (soft citrus), which may experience an increase of 5% compared to the volumes harvested in the previous campaign.

It is estimated that, by country, there is a growth of 12% in Italy and Spain, 13% in Morocco and 20% in Tunisia. On the other hand, there should be falls in Greece (-1%), Egypt (-8%), Israel (-4%) and Turkey (-15%). For the United States of America, a 9% drop is forecasted compared to the previous campaign (-5% in California and -14% in Florida).

These forecasts, relating to data provided by citrus associations in Egypt, Spain, Greece, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States of America (California and Florida), were announced on the eve of the first edition of the Global Citrus Congress , which takes place today, November 5, in online format, and which is co-organized by WCO and Fruitnet.