California Citrus Crops Devastated by Freeze,
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California’s citrus crop has been devastated by a freeze, but Florida promises to make up some of the shortfall.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated on Tuesday that a series of unusually cold nights would cause total state crop losses of $1 billion, including oranges and other fruits and vegetables.
“The financial losses to the agricultural industry will likely reach $1 billion,” Schwarzenegger said in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.
“These extreme weather conditions have had a devastating impact on California’s agricultural industry, exacting catastrophic losses on our citrus, avocado, vegetable and strawberry crops,” the governor wrote.
California normally supplies the majority of fresh oranges to grocery shelves in the country, but the losses there will be made up for by oranges from Florida, the main growers’ group in the Sunshine State pledged.
Michael Sparks, chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual, said in a statement late Tuesday its members are “in a position to help fill the vacuum that will be created by the absence of California citrus.”
Florida is the biggest citrus producer in the U.S. but most of its fruit is processed into juice.
Schwarzenegger had written to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide aid for farmers who suffered heavy losses after several cold nights which froze crops.