<p>As growers in California’s San Joaquin Valley continue to assess the damage caused by the recent freeze, some growers are also looking a little further down the road. With some operations already revealing early estimates of nearly 30% to 60% damage to the crop, growers also tell us that there will be tree damage for some, requiring new plantings or pruning that will affect next year’s yield. For the most part it will be a supply issue in this year’s crop, they note. Damaged caused varies based on growing areas hardest hit as well as by variety.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">While most growers are still getting product to market, prices have climbed steadily and demand is greater than supply for most cases. Mandarins are reported to be in the mid-thirties price range for bags and mid-twenties for cartons. Navels are in the high teens to low twenties with lemons in the low to mid-thirties for most sizes.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The current drought situation in California is also taking its toll and compounding the most recent freeze challenges. As an industry, many growers are having to pump water to irrigate fields in a time when they may not usually have to, growers tell us, which is much more expensive and another added cost to the company. Lack of water causes tree stress and in turn will affect its growth cycle so it’s a very intricate balance they need to maintain.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for updates on the California citrus season.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
