Hurricane Milton Could Wipe Out Florida’s Oranges
Fifty-four percent of the oranges grown in the US are grown in Florida. According to USDA figures, many of these are grown in the area just east of Tampa and to the southeast of the city. Maps of Hurricane Milton, which is currently a Category 5 storm, show it hitting these areas hard with rainstorms that will cause major flooding and winds as much as 100 MPH.
*Hurricane Milton Damage
Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather’s Founder and Executive Chairman, recently commented, “Milton can result in significant losses of vegetables and fruit crops such as oranges and tomatoes, which can have an even greater impact than Helene on agriculture.” The Flordia Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services put the value of the state’s orange crop at almost $500 million. The owners of these orange groves could be wiped out financially.
$250 Billion Damages
The orange economy is part of a much larger problem. Hurricane Helene caused as much as $250 billion in damage. The figure for Florida was much lower than North Carolina’s, and crops were still at a lower percentage. However, the effects of these storms on agriculture cannot be overestimated.
For now, the issue of orange crop value is on a back burner. Much of Tampa and the areas around it could be partially destroyed. The immediate concern is for real estate near the cost and human lives threatened by a storm surge. However, once Milton is gone, so will be a large part of Florida’s orange harvest.
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