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Lemon and orange updates
Challenging weather conditions impact lemons and oranges.
Lemon prices increased in April across most fruit sizes. Harvest is wrapping up in the Central Valley and getting underway along the coast. Quality is reportedly good and the size profile large. Argentina’s crop is coming in relatively early and is expected to start arriving to the U.S. in May. Argentina is the largest exporter of lemons to the U.S, followed by Chile and Mexico.
Orange harvest should be wrapping up over the next couple of months. Prices are slowly falling and this may be due to quality issues such as granulation, fruit puff and low acidity. USDA increased its initial production estimate for Florida by 1.7% to 12.2 million boxes and while this is on par with last season, it is still at historical lows for the state. Citrus greening and storm damage have severely reduced Florida’s production capacity over the last two decades. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a genetically modified rootstock with resistance to citrus greening, called CarriCea T1. Disease resistant rootstocks have the potential to transform an industry by increasing production levels. This should benefit both Florida producers and California growers, where citrus greening is present but remains limited in its impact.
Profitability
March 11, 2026Lemons: Slightly unprofitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
Oranges: Slightly profitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
Relatively weak demand and prices continue to challenge lemon growers. Larger than ideal fruit sizes and mixed quality will pressure prices for the 2026 crop.
The 2025-26 mandarin crop faces challenges due to excessively wet and cold weather, but strong quality, demand and prices should support the industry. Navel prices are mixed due to the large size profile, but overall remain slightly profitable.
Domestic markets make up the vast majority of lemon and orange demand, with exports only accounting for about 11% of total production. The largest foreign markets include Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, and to a much lesser extent, Hong Kong. Lemon and orange imports have increased significantly over the last decade and make up 17% of total domestic supply, a relatively high amount compared to other specialty crops. Increased plantings coupled with low labor costs and minimal trade barriers have enabled citrus growers in Central and South America to compete in U.S. markets.
Lemon production, exports and imports
USDA Citrus Fruits Summary. U.S. Census Bureau. Crop year is from August to July.
Orange production, exports and imports
USDA Citrus Fruits Summary. U.S. Census Bureau. Crop year is from October to September.
Tariff tracker - Tariff rates applied to U.S. trade partners are consistenly updated to reflect policy changes. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tracks duties and tariffs on lemons and oranges. For your convenience, the following links will take you to tariff data for South Korea (fresh oranges and mandarins/tangerines/satsumas) and Japan (fresh oranges and mandarins/tangerines/satsumas). Citrus fruits are currently exempt from tariffs with Canada under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but please refer to the U.S. Trade Representative website for up-to-date information. WTO also tracks rates for lemon imports and orange imports to the U.S. Please consult with a trade lawyer or professional for detailed and up-to-date insights on tariff rates and their application to lemons and oranges.
For guidance on interpreting duty and tariff rates, please refer to our Tariff Guide.
Lemon and orange updates
Challenging weather conditions impact lemons and oranges.
Lemon prices increased in April across most fruit sizes. Harvest is wrapping up in the Central Valley and getting underway along the coast. Quality is reportedly good and the size profile large. Argentina’s crop is coming in relatively early and is expected to start arriving to the U.S. in May. Argentina is the largest exporter of lemons to the U.S, followed by Chile and Mexico.
Orange harvest should be wrapping up over the next couple of months. Prices are slowly falling and this may be due to quality issues such as granulation, fruit puff and low acidity. USDA increased its initial production estimate for Florida by 1.7% to 12.2 million boxes and while this is on par with last season, it is still at historical lows for the state. Citrus greening and storm damage have severely reduced Florida’s production capacity over the last two decades. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a genetically modified rootstock with resistance to citrus greening, called CarriCea T1. Disease resistant rootstocks have the potential to transform an industry by increasing production levels. This should benefit both Florida producers and California growers, where citrus greening is present but remains limited in its impact.
Profitability
March 11, 2026Lemons: Slightly unprofitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
Oranges: Slightly profitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
Relatively weak demand and prices continue to challenge lemon growers. Larger than ideal fruit sizes and mixed quality will pressure prices for the 2026 crop.
The 2025-26 mandarin crop faces challenges due to excessively wet and cold weather, but strong quality, demand and prices should support the industry. Navel prices are mixed due to the large size profile, but overall remain slightly profitable.
Domestic markets make up the vast majority of lemon and orange demand, with exports only accounting for about 11% of total production. The largest foreign markets include Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, and to a much lesser extent, Hong Kong. Lemon and orange imports have increased significantly over the last decade and make up 17% of total domestic supply, a relatively high amount compared to other specialty crops. Increased plantings coupled with low labor costs and minimal trade barriers have enabled citrus growers in Central and South America to compete in U.S. markets.
Lemon production, exports and imports
USDA Citrus Fruits Summary. U.S. Census Bureau. Crop year is from August to July.
Orange production, exports and imports
USDA Citrus Fruits Summary. U.S. Census Bureau. Crop year is from October to September.
Tariff tracker - Tariff rates applied to U.S. trade partners are consistenly updated to reflect policy changes. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tracks duties and tariffs on lemons and oranges. For your convenience, the following links will take you to tariff data for South Korea (fresh oranges and mandarins/tangerines/satsumas) and Japan (fresh oranges and mandarins/tangerines/satsumas). Citrus fruits are currently exempt from tariffs with Canada under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but please refer to the U.S. Trade Representative website for up-to-date information. WTO also tracks rates for lemon imports and orange imports to the U.S. Please consult with a trade lawyer or professional for detailed and up-to-date insights on tariff rates and their application to lemons and oranges.
For guidance on interpreting duty and tariff rates, please refer to our Tariff Guide.
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Lemon and Orange Industry Perspective
View the latest AgWest Lemon and Orange Industry Perspective.
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