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CITRUS
MATURITY TEST RESULTS
September 10, 2004

Florida Agricultural Statistics Service   |  1222 Woodward Street   |  Orlando, Florida 32803   |  407 / 648-6013


  Results of the first orange and grapefruit maturity tests for the 2004-05 season are listed below. Samples of various ages throughout the five areas of the citrus growing region were picked August 31 -September 1, 2004. Fruit was weighed, juiced, and tested in the Orlando laboratory September 2. Only regular bloom fruit is selected for these tests which will continue on a monthly basis through the season. Over 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.

  Acid levels are higher than reported in any of the past three seasons. Soluble solids for early and midseason oranges are at record low levels for this time of the season while white grapefruit is slightly above last season's record low. Juice per box is down for the second consecutive season for all fruit tested. Grapefruit solids per box are lower than recorded in the previous four seasons and orange solids are the second lowest in a series which began in 1997-98.

  The table on page two reports averages for the Indian River District separately from those for the other areas. Currently, Brix levels are higher for Indian River fruit but pounds of juice per box are higher for the other areas.


Maturity and yield test results: Unadjusted averages for regular bloom fruit
from sample groves for crop years 2000-01 through 2004-05
Type of fruit
crop year 		Sample
groves 		Acid Soluble
solids 		Ratio Juice
per box 		Solids
per box
  Number Percent   Pounds
Early Oranges
September 1
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
2004-05 120 1 .62 9 .31 5 .85 42 .42 3 .95
Midseason Oranges
September 1
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
2004-05 54 1 .80 9 .02 5 .11 42 .00 3 .79
White Seedless Grapefruit
September 1
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
2004-05 50 1 .71 9 .54 5 .60 32 .69 3 .12
Colored Seedless Grapefruit
September 1
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
2004-05 50 1 .67 9 .74 5 .84 33 .69 3 .28

Maturity Test Results: Averages by areas, 2004-05 season, September 1, 2004
Fruit type Groves
sampled		 Acid Solids
(Brix)		 Ratio Unfinished
juice per box		 Solids
per box
  Number Percent Percent   Pounds Pounds
Oranges:
  Early
    Indian River Dist. 9 1 .67 9 .46 5 .73 38 .89 3 .68
    Other Areas 111 1 .61 9 .30 5 .86 42 .71 3 .97
  Midseason
    Indian River Dist. 10 1 .77 9 .04 5 .14 41 .80 3 .78
    Other Areas 44 1 .80 9 .01 5 .10 42 .04 3 .79
Grapefruit:
  White Seedless
    Indian River Dist. 38 1 .71 9 .63 5 .63 32 .44 3 .12
    Other Areas 12 1 .68 9 .26 5 .51 33 .47 3 .10
  Colored Seedless
    Indian River Dist. 40 1 .67 9 .77 5 .85 33 .29 3 .25
    Other Areas 10 1 .66 9 .61 5 .79 35 .31 3 .39


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