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| 01-15-2010
A bit of cold weather can be good for maturing Florida citrus, but extreme cold for extended periods can lead to a lot of anxiety for growers and packers.
Florida citrus officials began assessing their crops Monday to determine what kind of hit the industry took following a second morning of record-low temperatures across the citrus belt.
Monday morning's low of 27 degrees in Winter Haven was a record for Jan. 11, just as Sunday morning's low of 26 degrees was a record for Jan. 10, according to the AccuWeather forecasting service.
For fruit damage to set in, temperatures must reach 28 degrees for four hours or more, industry experts say. Colder temperatures for longer periods can cause tree damage.
The sub-freezing temperatures sent several growers scattering Monday to save as much product as possible.
According to officials with Lakeland-based Florida Citrus Mutual, the industry's largest trade organization, growers weren't bringing back great news following an initial assessment of their crops.
"The reports we are getting tell us there is frozen fruit as well as twig and leaf damage out there now," Michael W. Sparks, the vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, said in a statement released Monday morning. "It may be days or weeks until we figure out whether there is long-term tree damage."
Archie Ritch, who owns Ridge Island Groves at 6000 Polk City Road in Haines City, said he had some spotty fruit damage Monday morning but nothing catastrophic. He said that damage to product because of cold weather is usually factored in when assessing the product throughout the year.
Read the original article from The News Chief.