Big increase in "tangerine"

The USDA Fruit and Tree Nut Outlook report puts into perspective year on year citrus production gains for the U.S. will be substantial, particularly for oranges and tangerines (clementines). Grapefruit has taken a hit, however. The report also suggests fruit grower returns have been sagging compared to year ago levels starting in mid-June. Also find some stats about projected California avocado production in the ERS publication. From the report:


The index of prices received by fruit and nut growers dropped below last year’s indices in June and has remained lower each month through October. Fresh orange, grapefruit, and apple grower prices were lower for September and October 2007 compared with the same time last year, but fresh lemon prices were higher. On the other hand, the Consumer Price Index for fresh fruit rose this September and October over last year, with higher prices for fresh lemons and bananas.
The 2007/08 U.S. citrus crop is forecast at 12.5 million tons, 22 percent higher than last season. Most of the increase is due to bigger orange and tangerine crops, while both the grapefruit and lemon crops are forecast to be smaller. California is forecast to produce 2.2 million tons of oranges in 2007/08, 29 percent more than last year’s freeze-damaged crop. Most of California’s oranges go to fresh use. Florida’s orange crop, most of which is processed, is forecast to reach 7.6 million tons in 2007/08. If realized, it would be the biggest crop since 2003/04, but still small compared with recent prehurricane season crops. Grapefruit production for the 2007/08 season is forecast at 1.5 million tons, 5 percent lower than 2006/07, and the smallest crop since 1912, excluding the hurricane-damaged Florida crops in 2004/05 and 2005/06. Florida’s crop, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. grapefruit production, is forecast to decline 8 percent from last season, to 1.1 million tons. Texas grapefruit production is forecast at 272,000 tons, 4 percent lower than last season, but the second biggest crop since 2000/01.
Florida's grapefruit production for the 2007/08 season is forecast at 1.5 million tons, 5 percent lower than 2006/07, and the smallest crop since 1912, excluding the hurricane-damaged Florida crops in 2004/05 and 2005/06 (table 6). Florida’s crop, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. grapefruit production, is forecast to decline 8 percent, to 1.1 million tons, the lowest in 75 years, excluding the hurricane years. A decline in both the number of trees and acres between 2006 and 2007 contributed to the decline in production. Smaller sized fruit were another factor. While fruit size is a seasonal factor limiting production, the crop in Florida’s acreage, along with the very small number of nonbearing acres, is likely to be a limiting factor on Florida’s grapefruit production in the future
Lemon production is forecast at 684,000 tons for 2007/08. California’s production is forecast to be 3 percent higher than last season, and Arizona’s production is forecast to be 40 percent lower.
The 2007/08 tangerine crop is forecast to total 433,000 tons, 28 percent higher than last season. While Florida is expected to have a bigger crop than last season, it would be smaller than 2005/06. California’s crop is forecast to be 61 percent bigger than last season and 30 percent bigger than 2005/06.