Citrus prices also revised upward

Cane farmers are not the only agriculturalists receiving improved rewards for their labours. Estimated prices for this season’s citrus crop have also been revised upwards. The projected price of a box of oranges has this week gone from four dollars to four dollars and ninety-one cents. The rise was prompted by a prolonged upturn in the average price of orange futures on the world market, which under the contract between Del Oro and the Citrus Growers Association, automatically triggers a price revision. Despite the improved compensation, however, growers say the level is still below their costs of production, which run between five dollars and five-fifty per box. Industry observers are cautiously optimistic that prices will stay firm or even increase due to predictions of lower than anticipated production in Florida. Belize, predicting a record crop, will produce seven point four million boxes of citrus this season. Just to get an idea of relative clout in the market, Florida is expected to harvest two hundred and twenty-nine million boxes. Meanwhile, estimated prices for Belizean grapefruit have remained at three dollars and ninety-eight cents.