<p> Preliminary damage estimates for Kern County’s citrus crop may exceed $100 million following the harrowing freeze in the area this last December. Official loss estimates won’t be available until April, though at that time, losses will be estimated by comparing them with the gross value of the crops averaged over the previous five years.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> County Agricultural Commissioner Ruben Arroyo told the Kern County Board of Supervisors that local growers of lemons, tangerines, and mandarins have lost as much as half their crop to freeze damage, according to Bakersfield Californian. He estimates 15% of Kern County’s Valencia orange crop and 35% of other large orange varieties are also damaged. Lemons took the largest hit, with an estimated 50% of the total not meeting fresh market standards. Tangerine and mandarin losses are estimated between 40% and 50%.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Still, damage estimates are highly dependent on where the area is. Alyssa Houtby from California Citrus Mutual, said that freeze damage estimates are higher in Kern than in counties to the north. She noted that about one-third of the navel orange crop had been harvested and picking can begin as early as October and extend into July. This year though, the harvest season will likely end early, probably by May.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Although all freeze-damaged fruit has been processed for juice, Houtby predicts that consumers will see moderate price increases for citrus in supermarkets.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow any further developments on the official loss estimates for citrus in the area.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x172376761/Preliminary-Kern-citrus-freeze-losses-exceed-100-million" target="_new"> Bakersfield Californian </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
