USDA Issues Updated Citrus Harvest Forecast Up 200,000 Boxes From January’s Estimate
BARTOW, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its April 2026 citrus crop forecast, revising estimates for the 2025-2026 harvest season from its January outlook. Florida citrus growers are expected to harvest 12.2 million boxes of oranges this season, an increase of 200,000 boxes from the January estimate. The USDA also forecasted 1.25 million boxes of grapefruit, a slight increase from 1.2 million boxes, and 450,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos, a 50,000-box increase from the previous estimate.
“Strength in the harvest points to recovery ahead, despite recent weather challenges and ongoing impacts from citrus greening disease,” said Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “Florida’s citrus growers have a long history of meeting adversity with resilience. Growers are working diligently to rebuild, implementing grove management tools that work and replanting trees that show tolerance to disease, to accelerate gains in fruit quality, size and volume.”
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson’s 2026 Florida Farm Bill, Senate Bill (SB) 290, into law on Monday, March 23, which includes a provision to strengthen the state’s citrus research framework by merging the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) into the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation. This new structure seeks to streamline basic and applied research efforts and bolster growers’ efforts to combat citrus greening and other challenges. SB 290 will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
A recent markup of the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (Farm Bill) passed the Committee on Agriculture of the U.S. House of Representatives. There is optimism the Bill will be approved by the full House and Senate before the current extension expires in September.
Florida Citrus Mutual is working alongside state and federal partners to secure meaningful disaster relief to address the estimated $675 million in citrus losses from the January and February freezes.
Provided by Florida Citrus Mutual