VIDEO: Small size California navel oranges to be scarce all season

Markon Cooperative BB #:123315 released this Live from the Fields California navel orange crop report January 16, 2024:

Small-size navel oranges (113- and 138-count) will be extremely limited throughout the 2023/2024 season.

Last winter’s heavy rainfall was followed by a 30 percent bloom drop, causing large sizing to dominate the crop.
113- and 138-count supplies are the most popular for schools and operators that use juicing machines, which cannot accommodate larger sizes.

The 2024 Valencia crop will become available in April/May; size is currently dominated by 88-count fruit. Small-size California oranges are not expected to become more readily available until the 2024/2025 season that kicks off in October/November.

In order to ensure 100 percent order fulfillment, Markon is urging the membership to substitute 113- and 138-count Navels with the below options:

• 88-count Navel oranges
• 113- or 138-count Cara Cara oranges
• 113- or 138-count Mexican-grown juice oranges
• 113 or 138 count Texas-grown juice oranges

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for further information.