The initial 2012-13 California Navel orange forecast is for 93.0 million cartons.
Of the total, about 90 million cartons will be produced in California’s Central Valley.
This estimate is from the California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report released Sept. 12, 2012 by the California Agricultural Statistics Service.
The survey indicated a fruit set per tree of 344; above the five-year average of 324. The average Sept. 1 diameter was 2.195 inches; below the five-year average of 2.254.
The variety forecast includes conventional, organic, and specialty Navel oranges, including Cara Cara and Blood orange varieties.
The survey was conducted from July 15 to Sept. 3.
Of the 539 utilized groves, 10 were in Madera County, 92 in Fresno County, 306 in Tulare County, and 131 in Kern County.
Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, trees per acre, bearing acreage, and oranges per box were used in the statistical models to estimate the production.
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