February 3,2014:
Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual estimates that San Joaquin Valley citrus growers have suffered around US$441 million in revenue losses due to a seven-day freeze that hit the region in early December, 2013.
The industry organization adds that citrus growers spent US$49 million to protect the 2013-14 crop, “What has made this year complicated for assessing damage is that Mother Nature did not treat all areas and producers equally,” California Citrus Mutual chairman Kevin Severns said in a release.
“There are areas in Kern and Madera Counties where the Mandarins are completely wiped out, and others where damage is as great as 40-50%.”
Severns added the same could be said for orange crops, which have been a “mixed bag”.
“We know of one grower who lost 100% of his tonnage, whereas most producers lost 10-20%,” he said.
Out of the estimated US$441 million in losses to the industry, US$150 million in losses have been felt by mandarin growers, who had harvested just a fifth of their crop at the time of the freeze and lost around 40% of the remaining trees to frost damages.
The loss for the orange industry has been even greater at US$260 million, representing a damage of 30% of crops.
California Citrus Mutual said lemon farmers in the area fared much better with just a 20% loss, accounting for about $24 million in foregone revenue.
“The industry is now faced with increased costs associated with quality inspections,” Severns said
“Fruit is moving through the packinghouses at a much slower rate as we employ freeze detection technology as well as human inspection protocol.
“The California citrus industry is known for producing high quality fruit, and that is a reputation the industry is going to lengths to protect.”