December 16, 2021, Exeter, Calif.
The California Citrus Mutual Marketing Committee (Committee) estimates that the total Navel orange crop for the 2021-22 season will be down 20% from the previous season’s final utilized, or sold, production. The Committee also estimates that the Mandarin crop will be down as much as 45% from the 2020-2021 season.
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s 2021-22 California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report, released on September 10, 2021, the initial forecast for the navel orange crop was 70.0 million cartons, down 14% from the previous year’s total utilized production. Additionally, an estimated 4% of last season’s crop was not utilized, meaning it was not picked or sold.
Now several weeks into 2021-22 season, the Committee anticipates, based on current picking estimates, will be 20% below the prior season’s total utilized production and approximately 24% below the total crop size.
The drop in production is attributed to the previous season’s heavy crop and extended season. Due to the larger sized crop and other market conditions, fruit remained on the tree far longer than is typical, which negatively affected the current year’s crop size.
The Committee also estimates that the 2021-22 mandarin crop will be down 45% from the previous season’s exceptionally large crop.