<p>A new report reveals that California's San Joaquin Valley citrus producers incurred an estimated $441 million in lost revenue due to freeze damage during the December cold snap.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The valley’s citrus industry was subject to seven consecutive nights of subfreezing temperatures during the December cold snap, according to a press release from the California Citrus Mutual.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"A slight increase in price might recover some loss, however the industry is wary of fruit becoming too expensive," says Citrus Mutual President Joel Nelsen. "History tells us that higher prices result in demand for offshore citrus or alternative commodities."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>California Citrus Mutual estimated that SJV citrus growers have collectively spent $49 million to protect the 2013/2014 crop. California’s Kern County has seen a greater degree of damage than other areas in the Valley which is attributed to the early timing of the freeze event and the volume still on the trees. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"What has made this year complicated for assessing damage is that Mother Nature did not treat all areas and producers equally," says Citrus Mutual Chairman and General Manager of Orange Cove - Sanger Citrus Kevin Severns. "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%."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The same can be said for the Valley's Navel orange crop. "It's a mixed bag," continues Severns. "We know of one grower who lost 100% of his tonnage, whereas most producers lost 10-20%."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>As was originally anticipated, a comprehensive industry survey reflects significant damage to the Valley's Mandarin crop with an estimated 40% of the remaining tree crop lost due to freeze damage. The Navel crop is estimated to have incurred a 30% loss due to freeze damage Valley-wide. Lemon growers fared better than one would expect with a 20% loss due to freeze damage, or 1 million 40-pound cartons, a $24 million loss, according to the release.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The industry expects to continue shipping fruit through mid-May, versus a traditional availability that extends into July.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"The industry is now faced with increased costs associated with quality inspections," concludes Severns. "Fruit is moving through the packinghouses at a much slower rate as we employ freeze detection technology as well as human inspection protocol.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"The California citrus industry is known for producing high quality fruit, and that is a reputation the industry is going to lengths to protect."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow the California citrus season.</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://cacitrusmutual.com" target="_new"> California Citrus Mutual </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
