Supermarket produce buyers have good reason to be optimistic about domestic citrus supplies this winter, according to predictions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and from sources in Florida and California.

Despite droughts, Hurricane Isaac and other factors, including Florida’s continuing fight against citrus crop diseases, government statistics show that citrus has held up well.

Earlier this month, the USDA estimated the total Florida citrus crop will be up about 5% over last season. Even the state’s grapefruit crop, which has been threatened by crop disease, will be up slightly over last season, USDA reports.

“It’s going to be another good year,” said Michael Sparks, executive vice president/CEO Florida Citrus Mutual, in a statement.

Read more: Unusual Weather Disrupts Local Produce Availability

Meanwhile, in California, navel oranges will be in adequate supply, consultant Dick Spezzano, president, Spezzano Consulting Service, Monrovia, Calif., told SN.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service forecasts California’s initial 2012-1013 navel orange crop to be up 6% from the previous year. That forecast is based on the Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey conducted in California’s Central Valley.

Also, clementines will represent an impressive part of California’s citrus crop production, Spezzano pointed out.

“California clementine production has gone from zero to a 100 million 5-pound boxes in 10 years. Right now, we’re getting 100 million 5-pound boxes of clementines a year from California. That’ll go up to 120 million to 130 million boxes in the next few years,” Spezzano said.

“Between Australian imports and a new crop out of California, clementines will be plentiful.”

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