Florida Hit By Sub-Zero Temperatures
Florida has been hit recently by temperatures below freezing, potentially damaging some orange crops. Hurricanes severely damaged a huge amount of the total state crop earlier this year. It is expected that the yield will reach its lowest year since 1930.
*Crop Damage Worse
The growing season for most oranges ranges from November to June. However, Navel Oranges grow between November and February. The current cold weather could affect the yield.
The orange growers in Florida will not get the luck they need. Hurricanes Milton and Helene drenched the West Coast of Florida and well inland. Milton created over 100 tornadoes. The area in the Inland River Valley, the center of the orange crop, was hit particularly hard geographically.
In the 2023 orange crop season, the revenue was $2.58 billion, most of which was from Florida. That year, the income was down 13%. That was ahead of the current fall-off.
No Relief Now
It is too early to tell how many orange growers could leave business due to the storms. It is certain to be more than zero.
The Orange crisis is a good example of how climate change can ruin or permanently damage an industry or region. The severe drought that has lasted for much of the decade has undermined much of the agriculture industry in southern California. Heavy flooding has washed away parts of some American cities and towns. Drought has dropped the Mississippi level, so barge traffic is interrupted.
Oranges are part of a massive challenge that will worsen parts of the US economy.
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