The same holds true for the mandarin crop. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here) Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. Orange, tangerines, clementines | Price reported (USD) It is definitely a shorter crop this year, and what we’re seeing from the field is that it will continue to be a shorter season.” Sun Pacific navel and Cara Cara field manager Gus Carranza said, “We’re going to have the opposite of last year. But whenever there is a heavier crop, Creamer said, it is naturally followed by a lighter crop. Shippers extended the market well into August in an effort to sell as much of the crop as possible.

Read related: 2021 Year in Review - InflationĪccording to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report, 4% of last season’s crop was not picked or sold. “When your fruit is not picked at all, the following year’s crop is down significantly.” “There were a lot of ( navel) growers who still had fruit on the tree at the end of the year,” said Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer. Yet several weeks into the season, the marketing committee for the California Citrus Mutual trade association predicted the navel crop will be down 20%, and the mandarin crop will drop as much as 45% from the 2020-21 season.

On the bright side, a steady, manageable supply of fresh citrus is ready for consumers wanting healthy, vitamin C-packed fruit. Read related: Shorter citrus crop brings high demand, strong prices This season, both mandarin and navel harvests are predicted to be much lighter and shorter in length due to drought, water and cost issues affecting this year’s crops.

California’s citrus groves look remarkably different than they did last year, when a record crop weighed down mandarin trees and navel oranges stayed on trees late into the summer months due to shipping issues at congested ports.

Summer cuties mandarins