Florida's citrus industry has taken another hit this week following sub-zero temperatures that struck the state on Monday morning, with the overall damage assessment still ongoing, according to Florida Citrus Mutual.
Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and CEO of the industry's largest trade organisation, said that reports had been coming in of frozen fruit as well as twig or leaf damage, and admitted that a full overview of the damage could take days or even weeks to put together.
'All of the information is anecdotal at this point and varies literally from grove to grove, so we won't be able to come out with a definitive answer until the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) accounts for the cold snap in the monthly forecast, probably in February,' Mr Sparks said in a statement.
'Complicating the issue is the sheer number of cold days we have had in a row,' he added. 'I can't remember anything like it.'
According to the group, the north (Lake County) and west side of the citrus belt along Pasco, East Hillsborough, Western Polk, Desot, Hardee and Hendry received the brunt of cold temperatures on Monday morning.
Central and Indian River regions seem to have come through in decent shape, the group said, but there could still be isolated or low-0lying areas where damage has occurred.
In December, the USDA forecast an orange crop of 135m boxes, although this is now likely to fall when the next estimate is made.
'Although production may be affected by this recent string of cold temperatures we still have ample inventories of orange juice and fully expect to continue to produce the quality crop our state is known for,' said Mr Sparks. 'Florida growers are a resilient bunch and I know we will come through this. This is not our first time in the rodeo and it won't be our last.'
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