<P> This trend was projected to change from 2000 to 2010 since the high production levels have slowed the rate of new plantings . </P> <P> Citrus fruits are produced all over the world; according to UNCTAD, as of 2004 there were 140 citrus - producing countries . Around 70% of the world's total citrus production is grown in the Northern Hemisphere, in particular countries around the Mediterranean and the United States, although Brazil is the largest citrus producer . </P> <P> In the United States, most orange juice and grapefruit is produced in Florida, while citrus fruits for consumption as fresh fruit are mainly grown in California, Arizona, and Texas . Smaller markets for citrus growth in the United States originate in South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and the gulf coastal states, including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, as well as North Carolina . Independent cultivars are found in Kentucky, Virginia, and even Missouri, Southern Illinois, and far Southern Kansas . The farther north the range, the more seasonal the cultivation . Florida produces approximately 100 million boxes annually (each box is 90 lbs). </P> <P> China could be a major player in the orange juice and processed citrus markets, except for high tariffs on citrus that make domestic sale more profitable . Though citrus originated in southeast Asia, current citrus production is low due to lower - than - average yields, high production and marketing costs, and disease . </P>

Who produces the most oranges in the us