South Africa, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay are all preparing to send citrus to the U.S. during the summer months, with industry sources saying the full Southern Hemisphere season will be in play within two weeks. Weather conditions have affected volumes and quality unevenly across origins, with some countries shipping larger volumes than normal while others face constraints.
This is the most actionable citrus update available right now, arriving at a moment when domestic U.S. production is under serious pressure — Florida's output dropped 28% this season and small orange supply has been critically tight. Southern Hemisphere arrivals will be critical to filling gaps in the orange, lemon, and specialty citrus categories.
Buyers should be getting clarity from suppliers on origin-by-origin quality and volume expectations now, as the differences between origins could significantly affect which programs hold up and which fall short through the summer.