Statement by Commissioner Putnam on Updated Citrus Forecast for 2015

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 updated citrus forecast, which has decreased by 5.6 million boxes since the April announcement, illustrates just how severely citrus greening is devastating Florida’s citrus industry. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has requested $18 million this year to support research, to grow clean citrus stock and to remove and replant diseased trees. We will fight to save Florida’s $10.7 billion citrus industry, and the 64,000 jobs the industry supports.”

The USDA forecast for this year estimates 96.4 million boxes of oranges, down from the 104 million boxes produced last year. This represents a decline of 60 percent since the peak of citrus production at 244 million boxes in 1997-98.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.