Costs of Producing Oranges in California and Florida, 1988/89

Cost-of-production data were collected in March 1990 for oranges in the two leading U.S. orange producing States (Florida and California) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Costs and Returns Survey. For the 1988/89 season, cash receipts per acre minus both variable and fixed cash expenses and capital replacement were positive for oranges in both States. Total economic costs per box of oranges were estimated to be $7.29 in California (75-pound box) and $7.48 in Florida (90-pound box). Returns above full economic costs were also positive in both States. Return to management was $311 per acre in Florida and $174 per acre in California.