From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on an updated 2015 citrus forecast for Florida, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released this statement:
“The citrus industry in Florida continues to be threatened by citrus greening, but we must fight this disease with every tool we have. That’s why I have requested $18 million this year to support research, to grow clean citrus stock and to remove and replant diseased trees. We must not give up on Florida’s $10.7 billion citrus industry, or the 64,000 jobs it supports.”
The USDA forecast for this year estimates 102 million boxes of oranges, down from the 104 million boxes produced last year. This represents a decline of 59 percent since the peak of citrus production at 254 million boxes in 1997-98.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com.