The 1997-98 Valencia orange forecast is 60.0 million cartons, unchanged from October, but up 7 percent from last season. Picking of the 1996-97 crop ended in November. The 1997-98 California tangerine forecast is 4.8 million cartons. This is unchanged from the October forecast and down 8 percent from the 1996-97 season. Quality, color, and flavor are good in the majority of lots.
Grades are good to fair.
Due to out of cooler decay, shippers are doing some repacking. Grade defects are scar, sunburn, coarse texture, green fruit, and soft fruit. This past month was one of the wettest Decembers on record. Some counties were well above the previous all time records for this winter month. Most of the growers and caretakers handled the excessive water with very few major problems.