- Author: Ben Faber
The USDA has released their Fruit and Nuts Outlook Report which shows the forecast the 2019/2020 seasons and provides an overview of the markets.
The 2019/20 citrus crop is forecast to be 7.63 million tons, down 4 percent from the previous season. Declines in overall production can mostly be attributed to smaller lemon, tangerine, and mandarin crops in California. Orange production in California has remained stable since last season. Citrus production in Florida has also remained stable with a 1 percent decline in orange production, and significant increases in grapefruit, tangerine, mandarin, and tangelo production over last year. Overall decreases in production of lemons, tangerines, mandarins, and tangelos are expected to result in increased imports, and higher prices compared with last year.
Fruit and tree nut grower prices began 2020 at low levels. At 117.8 (2011=100), the January 2020 index was down 10 percent from the January 2019 index and below the January average for 2016-18 (fig.1). The January 2020 index was the lowest since January 2013. Significantly lower grower prices for citrus fruit and apples drove down the index (table 1).
As of mid-March 2020, U.S. citrus exports were down except for orange juice and tangerines. Reduced exports have increased the domestic supply of citrus, putting downward pressure on prices. The January 2020 price of all- grapefruit is down 36 percent from the year before, and all-oranges and oranges for the fresh market are down by 6.9 and 9.4 percent respectively. All- lemon prices are down 28.5 percent, and fresh lemons prices are down by 8.6 percent.
Apple prices were down 21 percent in January 2020 from the year before. USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates the 2019 total apple crop to be up 3.6 percent from 2018. The strong dollar and increased tariffs in several countries have reduced exports, putting downward pressure on prices.
- Author: Ben Faber
On Thursday, October 17, 2019 the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) held a Lemon Rootstock and Scion workshop and field tour in Santa Paula, California. Results from Citrus Research Board (CRB) sponsored field trials evaluating several lemon rootstocks and scions were highlighted at this meeting. This event was well attended by over 100 grove managers, citrus growers and industry representatives. Speakers included CRB-funded researchers Ashraf El-kereamy, Ph.D., Mikeal Roose, Ph.D., Tracy Kahn, Ph.D., and Glenn Wright, Ph.D. The CRB has been funding research on several single site and multi-location lemon field trials, some of which have been ongoing since the late 1980's. Mikeal Roose, Tracy Kahn and Glenn Wright provided updates on the results of previous rootstock trials and the multi-location lemon rootstock and scion trials at Santa Paula, Lindcove Research and Extension Center and desert locations. Attendees learned about the various yield, packout and fruit quality of several lemon selections being studied in addition to new, non-lemon citrus cultivars to be released in the coming years. Following the presentations, attendees were invited to visit one of the lemon rootstock field trials.
Limoneira Company has been extremely helpful in much of this lemon research over the years. We thank them and also the Master Gardeners who helped in organizing the event held at the Limoneira meeting center. Read about a sideline at the event HERE.
Presentations from the workshop are available on the UCCE Ventura website HERE.
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- Author: Ben Faber
Lemon Scions and Lemon Rootstocks Workshop & Field Tour
October 17, 2019
8:00am-12:00 PM
Visitors Center, Limoneira Co., 1141 Cummings Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060 View map/directions here
Contact: Ben Faber, 805-645-1462, bafaber@ucanr.edu
Which Way Lemon Industry?
What are Lemon Rootstock Choices?
What are Lemon Scion Choices?
How are they Complementary?
What are their Effects on Yield? Fruit Quality? Canopy Growth? Soil Compatibility? Tree Health?
HLB Tolerance? Maybe We Know a Little.
How do Scions and Rootstocks Compare in the Desert, Valley and Coast?
Come Learn this and more. Tour a Scion/Rootstock Trial
Speakers:
Mike Roose, UC Riverside Citrus Breeder
Tracy Kahn, UC Riverside Curator Citrus Collection
Glenn Wright, University of Arizona Citrus Extension Specialist
Ashraf El-Kereamy, UC Riverside Citrus Specialist
- Author: Ben Faber
According to the latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report (Global Agricultural Information Network), the European Union is still a major citrus producing area. EU citrus production is concentrated in the Mediterranean region. Spain and Italy represent the leading EU citrus producers, followed by Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus. For MY (October/September) 2018/19, Post expects overall citrus production to grow mainly in Spain due to favorable weather conditions. The quality of the fruit is forecast to be excellent and EU domestic consumption of citrus may stay flat in 2018/19.
EU lemon production is forecast to grow 10 percent and is stable compared with previous estimates. The overall growth is due to the strong production rise expected in Spain, the largest lemon EU producer. According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), Spain's 2018/19 lemon production is forecast at 1.1 million MT, an increase of 19 percent compared to the previous year. Favorable weather conditions resulted in good flowering and fruit setting. In addition, in recent years Spain has increased its total planted area for lemons. Fruit quality is forecast to be excellent. ‘Fino' lemon is expected to increase by 14 percent due to the entry of new plantations over the last years. ‘Verna' lemon is expected to rebound; increasing by 90 percent as production of ‘Verna' lemon in the previous season was shorter than normal levels. Spain will continue to consolidate its leading commercial position in Europe with quality and phytosanitary guarantees. Following Argentina, Spain is the second largest lemon producer in the world but the first global exporter of lemons for fresh consumption. Spanish lemon production is concentrated in the regions of Murcia and Valencia, and the Provinces of Malaga and Almeria in Andalusia. ‘Fino' and ‘Verna' are the leading lemon varieties grown in Spain, accounting for 70 and 30 percent of the total production, respectively. The ‘Fino' variety is predominantly used for processing.
So far, Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB are not a problem in the lemon producing areas of Spain and Italy. Read more about the citrus industry in the European Union – oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, fresh, processed, policy, export issues, MRLs and tariffs. Fascinating stuff and the potential impacts it has on California growers and production.
And what about what's going on in the Moroccan citrus world, right next door to Spain?
- Author: Ben Faber
Voluntary Best Practices for Growers' Response to Huanglongbing
To provide California citrus growers with a strong toolbox of science-supported strategies and tactics to protect their orchards from Huanglongbing, the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee endorsed a set of best practices for growers to voluntarily employ in response to HLB in California.
The recommendations – which are grouped based on a grower's proximity to an HLB detection – represent the most effective tools known to the citrus industry at this time and are meant to supplement the California Department of Food and Agriculture's required regulatory response. They were developed by a task force consisting of growers from various regions across the state and scientists, including Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell and Dr. Neil McRoberts.
Growers are encouraged to use as many methods as feasible for their operation in order to limit the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and HLB, as the cost to manage the Asian citrus psyllid is far less than any potential costs or loss to the industry should HLB take hold throughout our state.
The Best Practices at a Glance
The complete best practices document, which includes the scientific rationale for the best practices, can be downloaded here. The following grid is intended to provide a brief, digestible format of the best practices.