TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first citrus crop forecast for the 2015-2016 season, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released this statement:
“On the heels of the smallest orange crop in nearly 50 years last season, this initial citrus crop estimate confirms that Florida’s citrus industry is in a fight for its life. The health of Florida citrus is important to every Floridian – not just those who depend on it for their livelihoods. We will continue to fight to save the industry, its more than $10.7 billion economic impact and the more than 64,000 jobs it supports.”
Commissioner Adam H. Putnam has requested $18,700,000 from the Florida Legislature this year to support critical research, grow clean citrus stock, remove and replant diseased trees and more.
The USDA’s initial forecast of 80 million boxes of oranges, weighing 90 pounds each, is down 17 percent from last year season. This represents a decline of more than 67 percent since the peak of citrus production at 244 million boxes during the 1997-1998 season.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
