What is fruit thinning in orange cultivation?

It is usual for a number of young fruits to drop off during the spring and early summer. This natural thinning is often referred to as the “June drop”. With most cultivars, too many fruits will likely still remain on the tree. It is often necessary to remove the excess fruit by hand when it is still very small. Fruit thinning reduces limb breakage; increases fruit size, improves colour and quality of remaining fruit, prevents depletion of the tree and stimulates flower initiation for next year’s crop.