CROP YEAR OPENS TODAY FOR CITRUS INDUSTRY


The citrus factory opened today for crop year 2005, 2006. After today the factory will be open Monday through Friday from seven a.m. to four p.m. to receive fruit. Oranges will be received when they have reached a maturity ratio of 13 to one. Grapefruit will be received when they have reached a maturity ratio of nine to one. A notice from the Citrus Growers' Association says that before delivering fruit to the factory growers should be sure samples have passed the maturity test at the lab. Estimated final prices are $6.43 per box of oranges and $6.67 per box of grapefruit. Advance payment on delivery will be $0.74 cents per pound for grapefruit.