Early estimates point to a 20 per cent fall in Texas citrus production due to the damage caused by Hurricane Dolly last week. It is believed that grapefruit suffered the heaviest losses.
Speaking to The Packer, Ray Prewett, president of the Mission-based Texas Citrus Mutual, said flooding was making it difficult to get an accurate picture of the damage.
“It varies tremendously,” he said. “We haven’t been able to do a full assessment but on a preliminary basis it looks like we probably sustained at least 20 per cent loss of our grapefruit.”
Growers say the final figure could be higher as there could be some fruit drop-off in the new few days.
Hurricane Dolly was initially labelled a Category 1 but grew to a Category 2 storm with winds approaching 100 miles per hour. It hit the Texas-Mexico border on 24 July and deposited almost 20 inches of rain in the Rio Grande Valley. It is believed that orchards in coastal areas were most badly affected, while the state’s primary growing area in western Hidalgo County.
With 11,500ha under commercial citrus production Texas is the second largest state in grapefruit output and the third in oranges. Marketers say growing conditions up to now have been favourable and they had been expecting a good quality crop for the 2008/09 season, due to get under way in September.
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