Grapefruit Countdown

I talked to a Florida grapefruit shipper today who is anxiously awaiting the start of the season. More importantly, he said shippers are nervously wondering when the USDA will issue the final rule on movement of Florida citrus from canker infested regions to noncitrus states.

With harvest starting the third week of September to the first week of October, he said Florida growers need to have clear rules in place.

Without the ability to ship out of state, the start of the season could be a "bloodbath."

Meanwhile, he said South African grapefruit deal is finishing a bit early, which may help export markets in Japan and Europe. No firm handle on Florida's crop yet, but it could be in the same ballpark as last year's crop. It may be a touch larger, he said, but one factor that plays against that expectation is that growers say there may be less "inside fruit," or fruit inside the canopy.

Prices will begin in the teens for Florida grapefruit and eventually may settle at $10-11 per carton for the larger fruit and about $8 per carton for 56s, he said.