Florida Orange Crop Set to be Smallest Since Second World War

USDA estimates Florida’s output at 28 million boxes for season
Impacts from Hurricane Ian will be included in December report

Fallen oranges and damaged trees following Hurricane Ian at a grove in Florida.Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Marvin G Perez

October 12, 2022 at 4:05 PM UTC

Updated on

October 12, 2022 at 6:03 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Florida is set to have the smallest orange crop in almost eight decades even before factoring in the full impacts of Hurricane Ian’s devastation on the state’s citrus groves.

The state will produce 28 million boxes for the current season, down 32% from the prior year, the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday in a report. That’s the lowest harvest since 1943. A box weighs 90 pounds or 41 kilograms.