But the earlier forecast did not factor in the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, which plowed right through large portions of citrus country in Florida. Milton blasted the state when it made landfall on Oct. 9 near Sarasota, marching through the interior of Florida before exiting into the Atlantic Ocean near Fort Pierce on Oct. 10.

Read: Florida farmers face ‘unprecedented financial strain’ after Hurricane Milton “It’s a signature crop for Florida, we’re going to be investing very heavily on that,

Hurricane Milton has delivered a devastating blow to Florida's citrus industry, pushing what was already forecasted to be a historically low harvest even lower for the 2023-2024 season.

An updated forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Florida is projected to produce enough oranges to fill 12 million 90-pound boxes, 3 million less than expected before Milton. The industry produced 17.96 million boxes of oranges during the 2023-2024 season, which ended in July.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Damage from Hurricane Milton is driving down citrus production from what was already expected to be a historic low in the current growing season, according to a federal report released Tuesday.