------------------------------------------------------------------------ CITRUS MATURITY TEST RESULTS September 11, 2003 Florida Agricultural Statistics Service | 1222 Woodward Street | Orlando, Florida 32803 | 407 / 648-6013 ------------------------------------------------------------- Results of the first orange and grapefruit maturity tests for the 2003-04 season are listed below. Samples of various ages throughout the five areas of the citrus growing region were picked September 2-3, 2003. Fruit was weighed, juiced, and tested in the Orlando laboratory September 4-5. Only regular bloom fruit is selected for testing. Three-fourths of the white and colored grapefruit sample groves are located in the Indian River District while nearly 90 percent of the early-midseason orange sample groves are in the other four areas. Sample groves and pivot trees remain relatively constant from season to season. With the exception of midseason oranges, acid levels are lower than any in the series which began in 1997-98. Soluble solids for early oranges and white grapefruit are also at record low levels for this time of the season. Juice per box is the highest in the series for white grapefruit. Although pounds of juice are lower for colored grapefruit and midseason oranges, both values are above the average of the preceding seasons shown in this report. The table on page two reports averages for the Indian River District separately from those for the other areas of the state. Maturity and yield test results: Unadjusted averages for regular bloom fruit from sample groves for crop years 1999-00 through 2003-04 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type of fruit Sample Soluble Juice Solids crop year groves Acid solids Ratio per box per box ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number Percent Pounds Early Oranges September 1 1999-00 120 1.73 9.35 5.53 41.09 3.83 2000-01 120 1.63 9.78 6.11 42.44 4.14 2001-02 120 1.37 9.64 7.22 43.16 4.16 2002-03 120 1.29 9.41 7.46 45.30 4.26 2003-04 120 1.21 9.34 7.85 42.64 3.98 Midseason Oranges September 1 1999-00 55 1.99 9.13 4.69 39.47 3.60 2000-01 55 1.77 9.32 5.35 44.22 4.13 2001-02 55 1.58 9.37 6.03 42.87 4.02 2002-03 55 1.42 9.03 6.46 45.90 4.14 2003-04 55 1.43 9.35 6.63 44.12 4.13 White Seedless Grapefruit September 1 1999-00 50 1.83 10.24 5.61 29.15 2.97 2000-01 50 1.82 10.14 5.58 32.47 3.29 2001-02 50 1.65 9.80 5.95 33.93 3.32 2002-03 49 1.56 9.69 6.24 34.63 3.36 2003-04 50 1.55 9.53 6.18 34.78 3.31 Colored Seedless Grapefruit September 1 1999-00 50 1.75 10.07 5.79 29.02 2.92 2000-01 50 1.76 10.36 5.91 33.45 3.47 2001-02 50 1.64 10.03 6.13 34.68 3.48 2002-03 50 1.54 10.14 6.63 36.12 3.66 2003-04 50 1.49 9.79 6.58 34.84 3.41 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maturity Test Results: Averages by areas, 2003-04 season, September 1,2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fruit type Groves Acid Solids Ratio Unfinished Solids sampled (Brix) juice per box per box ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number Percent Percent Pounds Pounds Oranges: Early Indian River Dist. 9 1.21 9.52 7.88 44.39 4.23 Other Areas 111 1.20 9.32 7.85 42.50 3.96 Midseason Indian River Dist. 10 1.46 9.31 6.41 43.96 4.09 Other Areas 45 1.42 9.36 6.68 44.15 4.14 Grapefruit: White Seedless Indian River Dist. 38 1.57 9.58 6.13 34.71 3.32 Other Areas 12 1.49 9.39 6.35 34.99 3.30 Colored Seedless Indian River Dist. 38 1.51 9.81 6.49 35.29 3.46 Other Areas 12 1.43 9.75 6.85 33.43 3.26 ------------------------------------------------------------------------