USDA Report Brings Welcome News for Florida Citrus
Florida citrus growers have spent years watching production numbers head in the wrong direction. The latest report from USDA, though, offers a reason for cautious optimism.
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates Florida's 2025-2026 orange crop at 12.92 million boxes, about six percent higher than last year's final crop. Grapefruit production reached 1.35 million boxes, while tangerines and tangelos totaled 460,000 boxes.
The industry's challenges haven't disappeared. Growers continue to battle citrus greening while recovering from years of hurricane damage.
Still, the latest numbers have some industry leaders wondering if the trend may finally be shifting. In an interview with the Florida Phoenix, Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner said, "Hopefully we've bottomed out and these higher numbers that we're seeing this year are a new trajectory, a new trend upwards, as our groves continue to recover and we continue to get trees in the ground."
No one's declaring victory just yet. But for the first time in quite a while, Florida citrus growers have a report that's a little easier to smile about.
Full USDA report: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Citrus/Citrus_Forecast/2025-26/cit0726.pdf
Reference article from Florida Phoenix: https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/10/citrus-industry-representative-hopes-the-industry-has-bottomed-out-is-recovering/
