TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on an updated 2015 citrus forecast for Florida, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released this statement:
“While the citrus forecast remains unchanged from the May announcement, which was the lowest in decades, we will continue to fight to save Florida’s signature crop, its more than $10.7 billion economic impact and the more than 64,000 jobs it supports.”
The USDA forecast for this year estimates 96.4 million boxes of oranges, weighing 90 pounds each, down from the 104 million boxes produced last year. This represents a decline of 60 percent since the peak of citrus production at 244 million boxes in 1997-98.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
