Citrus harvest in the United States falls in a challenging year

United States

Published Jan 27, 2022

Tridge summary

California's citrus groves look remarkably different than they did last year, when a record crop weighed down mandarin trees and navel oranges stayed on trees late into the summer months due to shipping issues at congested ports. This season, both mandarin and navel harvests are predicted to be much lighter and shorter in length due to drought, water and cost issues affecting this year's crops.

Original content

On the bright side, a steady, manageable supply of fresh citrus is ready for consumers wanting healthy, vitamin C-packed fruit. Yet several weeks into the season, the marketing committee for the California Citrus Mutual trade association predicted the navel crop will be down 20%, and the mandarin crop will drop as much as 45% from the 2020-21 season. "There were a lot of (navel) growers who still had fruit on the tree at the end of the year," said Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer. "When your fruit is not picked at all, the following year's crop is down significantly." According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report, 4% of last season's crop was not picked or sold. Shippers extended the market well into August in an effort to sell as much of the crop as possible. But whenever there is a heavier crop, Creamer said, it is naturally followed by a lighter crop. Sun Pacific navel and Cara Cara field manager Gus Carranza ...

Source: Agalert