Growers say early navel varieties generally are running smaller this year, putting a premium on larger offerings.
Matt Fisher, a Central California farmer who has citrus groves from Orange Cove to Bakersfield, said multiple factors come into play, including the state's ongoing drought and triple-digit heat waves.
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"It's one of those seasons where you're fighting every single day to make sure you have supply," Fisher said.
The heat causes trees to shut down, resulting in a smaller crop.
Meanwhile, a survey of state citrus growers shows the costs of bringing citrus to market have jumped 19% since early 2020.
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Factors impacting those costs include ballooning costs of surface water and increased expenses for fuel and fertilizer.