Grapefruit Crop Forecast UP

LAKELAND, Fl. -- Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
increased its grapefruit crop forecast for the 2003-2004 season by 300,000
boxes, to 40.8 million boxes. The colored varieties were increased by 400,000
boxes to 24.9 million boxes, while the white varieties decreased by 100,000
boxes to 15,900 million boxes.
The orange crop remains at 245 million boxes. Other varieties remaining the
same are: Valencias at 119 million boxes; Early and Midseason, 126 million
boxes; Navels, 4.3 million boxes; tangerines, 6.5 million boxes; Temples, 1.4
million boxes; and Tangelos, 1.4 million boxes.
Officials report the harvesting of white grapefruit varieties are 98 percent
complete with row count surveys for colored grapefruit varieties indicating
harvesting is slightly behind at 96 percent.
The yield for frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) was increased to 1.56
gallons per 90-pound box of oranges.