For many years Florida has been the nation’s dominant state in production of citrus. During the last decade nearly three quarters of all U.S. citrus was grown in Florida.

Florida’s objective citrus forecast
Advance knowledge of crop size permits early decisions for planning operations marketing and policy making which are especially important to a crop which is harvested over several months and sold year round. The U.S. Department of Agriculture first made forecasts of Florida citrus production in 1918 based on survey opinions of crop observers and statisticians. The need for greater accuracy in these
forecasts intensified as Florida’s production increased. Florida’s participation in world markets underlines the need for comprehensive and accurate information to successfully compete in these markets.

The interest in a statistically accurate forecast has led to the current system based on objective data including an early season limb count survey to establish actual fruit set supplemented with monthly inseason measurements of fruit size and observations of fruit droppage. This system of the forecasts and estimates is possible through an
industry supported per-box assessment on all Florida production. The resulting trust fund is used to collect much of the objective survey data for the USDA forecast and estimates.

SOURCE: FRESHPLAZA