 Who doesn’t enjoy a big, sweet, juicy orange or ruby red grapefruit? There’s not much that can compare with a tall glass of cold liquid sunshine, squeezed fresh from super sweet oranges that have ripened on the tree.
But let’s be honest. Where are you going to get that?
Good news for juice lovers! While harvest is just getting underway in the Rio Grande Valley, early reports have it that this year’s Valley citrus crop is going to be a good one!
Ray Prewett, president of the Texas Citrus Mutual in Mission, reports early harvest results indicate fruit this year is bigger and sweeter, though he warns they may be less of it to go around.
“We have about 27,000 acres planted in citrus fruit in the Valley, most of it grapefruit,” he says. “But that’s less than we had at one time.”
Prewett says urban growth in the Valley is partly to blame for the decline ion fruit acreage.
“There’s greater demand on the land now. New subdivisions are eating up land that once was filled with citrus orchards. I don’t see that trend changing,” he warns.
But in spite of less acreage, substantial rains earlier this
year will help overall citrus production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture crop estimate for this season's grapefruit is 13.6 million bushels, while early oranges is 2.9 million bushels, according to Texas Citrus Mutual, but this year's 6.8 million boxes is a reduction from 7.1 million boxes a year ago.
Drought conditions in Florida will once again hurt the Southeastern citrus crop. But most Valley producers say their fruit is largely consumed locally or sold to large companies for juice.
“I still think we’ll have a good year as far as meeting local demand,” adds Prewett.
But don’t be a ‘Johnny-come-lately”. Growers encourage consumers to buy early and visit local orchards for the sweetest fruit. Many orchards across the Valley encourage ‘pick-your-own-fruit’ and offer great prices for bulk purchase.
So get out the squeezer and plan your visit now - it’s citrus season in the Rio Grande Valley. Sweet!
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