FLA. ORANGE ESTIMATES DECREASE BY 17%
Agriculture here expects Florida's orange crop to produce 158 million boxes during the 2005-06 season, down nearly 17% from its Oct. 12 estimate. "This decrease is largely due to smaller-than-expected fruit size," said Andy LaVigne, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, in a statement. The forecast for early and midseason varieties, which include 3.5 million boxes of navel oranges, remains unchanged at 80 million boxes. Grapefruit estimates also remain unchanged at 16 million boxes. Based in Lakeland, Florida Citrus Mutual represents the business and economic interests of the state's citrus growers.
