------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Sample Soluble Juice Solids crop year groves Acid solids Ratio per box 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 Acid Solids Ratio Unfinished Solids sampled (Brix) juice per box 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------