The USDA has released its final 2026 season forecast for U.S. citrus, projecting volume growth across most major categories including oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, and tangerines. Florida, which has struggled through years of greening-related production declines, appears to have posted a meaningful recovery compared to recent challenging campaigns.
The timing matters. Florida citrus has received heavy public investment — including $175 million in state funding and USDA approval of a greening-resistant rootstock — and this forecast suggests those efforts are beginning to show results. For buyers, this is the clearest signal yet that domestic citrus supply may be more reliable heading into next season than it has been in years.
Worth monitoring whether the volume gains translate to improved pricing and availability at the domestic level, particularly for orange juice and fresh mandarins, as harvest transitions and packaging programs roll out.