Where is most citrus grown in the US?

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, more than 140 countries produce citrus fruits. About 70 percent of the world’s total citrus produce is grown in the northern hemisphere.

Brazil, China and the United States are the top total citrus fruit producers, growing grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges and tangerines.

In the United States, citrus fruits grown for consumption as fresh fruits are mainly grown in California, Arizona and Texas. Florida grows oranges primarily for juice. Ninety percent of Florida’s orange production is consumed in the United States.

Citrus production in the 2020-21 season dipped in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona compared to the previous season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) recently reported that total U.S. output of 6.9 million tons of citrus was down 12% from 2019-20.

CALIFORNIA
Total utilized production in California was down 3% in 2020-21. Orange production was off 7%, and grapefruit was down 17%. Tangerine and mandarin output climbed 25%. California had 60% of total U.S. citrus production in 2020-21. Estimates for California oranges and grapefruit are preliminary, because the marketing season is not yet complete.

FLORIDA
Florida’s total utilized production was down 21%. Oranges were off 22% and grapefruit dipped 15%. Florida had 38% of total U.S. production.

TEXAS AND ARIZONA
Total utilized production in Texas tumbled 39%. Oranges were down 22%, and grapefruit decreased 45%.

Arizona lemon output dropped by 56%.

Texas and Arizona combined had less than 2% of total U.S. production.  

VALUE AND ACREAGE
The value of the 2020-21 U.S. citrus crop was down 3% from last season, to $3.31 billion. Orange production value dropped 7%, and grapefruit value climbed 11%. The value of tangerines and mandarins was up 2%; lemon value was down slightly.

Total U.S. bearing citrus acreage dropped to 668,100 acres from 681,300 in 2019-20. Florida, which has the most citrus acres at 369,300, dropped from 380,500 bearing acres in 2019-20. California has 267,700 bearing acres, down from 269,700. Texas and Arizona acreage remained stable, at 23,800 and 7,300 bearing acres, respectively.  

See the full U.S. Citrus Fruits 2021 Summary.

The USDA/NASS also issued a detailed report on Florida’s citrus acres and crop value. That report showed that Florida’s total acreage, including both bearing and non-bearing acreage, declined 3% in 2021 to 407,348 acres, and that on-tree value of $579 million was 17% less than the previous year.

TALLAHASSEE — California has surpassed Florida in a new estimate of orange production, the latest sign of continuing struggles in the Sunshine State’s citrus industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly update released earlier this month, said Florida is forecast to produce enough oranges to fill 51.7 million 90-pound boxes by the time the 2020-2021 growing season ends in July.

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That is down 6.8% from a March forecast and would be 23% lower than production during the 2019-2020 season.

Meanwhile, the department forecast California’s production at 52 million boxes, the same as in a March forecast.

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Twenty years ago, Florida produced 223.3 million boxes of oranges and 46 million boxes of grapefruit, nearly five times the production from California.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement that the “latest forecast is concerning” while noting growers have long faced challenges, including citrus greening disease.

“I remain strongly committed to our continued support for Florida’s vital citrus industry, requesting this year from legislators $8 million for citrus greening research and over $6 million for citrus health response and pest eradication, and I’m encouraged by new research advances including citrus greening genetic resistance,” Fried said in the statement.

Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, issued a statement that said the citrus industry “remains a vital part of our state’s economy” but pointed to a need for support.

“While we expect production to vary from season to season, today’s forecast provides an important reminder that we cannot take this industry for granted,” Shepp said. “Growers need our support so that they may continue to produce great-tasting Florida citrus and support the small communities where citrus is grown. Citrus will always have a place in Florida, but we must work together to overcome the challenges growers are currently facing.”

Last year, Florida produced 67.4 million boxes of oranges, while California produced 54.1 million boxes. A year earlier, Florida produced 71.85 million boxes to 52.2 million boxes in California.

Along with citrus greening disease, growers have struggled against residential and commercial development, foreign imports and hurricane impacts.

Lisa Pate, a mathematical statistician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, noted that in preparing the latest monthly update, oranges were seen to have a “droppage” rate of 41%, a record high for a non-hurricane year for fruit to fall before reaching maturity.

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Also lower in the latest forecast was grapefruit production, now at 4.3 million boxes, down from 4.6 million boxes in the March forecast. And specialty crops, primarily tangerines and tangelos, declined from 1.05 million boxes in the March forecast to 950,000 boxes.

In the 2019-2020 growing season, Florida produced 4.85 million boxes of grapefruit and 1.02 million boxes of specialty crops.