RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (RFD News) — Texas citrus growers are reporting a positive outlook for the current crop despite hot and dry conditions across the region.
Texas Citrus Mutual President Dale Murden said growers are dealing with several levels of drought and could use additional rainfall as they work to get the crop through the final stretch of summer.
Murden said the industry is coming off a stronger season and expects production to continue moving in the right direction.
“All said, last year’s crop was up about 13 percent over the year before. We shipped a little over six million cartons, and I think we’re poised to have another increase this year. Not that rain wouldn’t be welcome, but all in all, the crop looks pretty good.”
Labor remains another concern for the industry, with Murden saying existing programs need changes as the problem continues to grow.
He said several proposals in Congress could address some of those challenges and called on lawmakers to move forward with a solution.
“There’s been several bills introduced that are all common sense fixes to some of the problems that we have. What we need is for Congress to just get together on it and pick one. I don’t care if it’s a D or an R.”
Despite the challenges, Murden said Texas citrus continues to perform well, and consumers are glad to see the industry working through the obstacles it has faced.
