date:Dec 12, 2013
W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. This small crop size shows how damaging HLB, or citrus greening, can be and that growers are in a fight for their lives.
The USDA makes its initial estimate in October of each year and revises it monthly as the crop takes shape until the end of the season in July. However, the federal government shutdown delayed the initial estimate until Friday Nov. 8.
During the 2012-2013 season, Florida produced 133.6 million boxes of oranges.
The US