FRUIT NOTES - February, 193^ 



W. H. Thles 

 Extension Horticulturist 



development of the citrus industry. A few statistics will nake 

 this clear. 



Avera.2;e Annual Production in United Sta.tes (Approximate) 



lgQt5 -1900 1919-19 ^3 1932-1936 



Apples (bushels) 156,000,000 163,000,000 136,000,000 



(ISS9} . 



Oranges (boxes) k-,kno,000 29,g00,000 53,200,000 



Grapefruit " 10,000 7,^^00,000 19,500,000 



Lemons " 560,000 i+, 5OO, 000 7.600,OO0 



The development of the citrus industry has by no means 

 reached a maximum. Extensive plantings in Texas and other states 

 are tending to Increane the citrus acreage. For instance, in I92O 

 there ^ere practically no oranges shipped out of Texas. In I936 

 ar'proximately two million boxes found their way to markets outside 

 the state. California and Florida, ho^rever, produce the bulk of 

 the orange crop. 



Grapefruit are grown largely in Florida with ne^"' -olantings 

 on the increase in Texas and Arizona. California, produces prac- 

 tically all of the lemon crop. Lemon production is thus central- 

 ized and prices a.re relatively strble. Orange and gra-nefruit 

 prices, on the other ^land, fluctuate tremendously. The trends in 

 citrus fruit production would seem to presage hard times for the 

 apiole grower. Undoubtedly this is true for the marginal class. 

 But the better growers do not fear citrus com-oetition. Citrus 

 fruits can never replace deciduous fruits entirely because f'^eir 

 u.ses do not coincide. There is always going to be a market for 

 qu.ality apples, pears, etc, that can be sold at a reasonable price 

 In short, that grower is going to succeed who can produce high 

 quality fruit at lovr cost. 



Issued by the Extension Service, Willard A. Munson, director, 

 of Acts of May g and June 30, 191^. Massachusetts 

 Strte College, United States Department of Agriculture, and County 

 Services cooperating. "* 



