Although it's still early, California reports say grapefruit supplies will likely be 10 to 20 percent lower than last year. “We've been through these fluctuations, and what used to feel like a 'biennial' trade,” said Casey Creamer, CEO of California Citrus Mutual. I feel like I'm not doing well. It's just a completely different situation.”
He points out that the heavy rains seen in the past few years may be affecting crops. “Last year we had unprecedented rain, and this year we have had a fair amount of rain,” he says. This includes Southern California, where the majority of the state's grapefruit is grown. (About 4,500 acres of his 8,000-acre grapefruit farms in the state are in this district.)
smaller crops
As it turns out, California's other citrus crops are also seeing changes. This year's navel harvest, like lemons and tangerines, was lower than expected (although the yield has caught up somewhat).
Production is scheduled to end from the end of August to the beginning of September. “Fruit is available year-round, but peak season is outside of peak season in Texas and Florida,” Creamer says.
On the other hand, although the size of the fruit seems larger than average, the size is reduced due to the sufficient water supply. “So we're seeing a lot of early-season size crops and trying to manage the crop so we can continue to meet consumer demand preferences,” Creamer said. “After years of drought, there was a premium on smaller sizes and larger sizes, but now we're seeing a reversal of that.”
For more information:
Abby Peltzer
california citrus mutual
Phone: +1 (559) 592.3790
abby@cacitrusmutual.com
https://www.cacitrusmutual.com/