Be prepared to pay much higher prices for that drink of orange juice at breakfast.
Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s $6 billion citrus industry hard, reducing this year’s crop by killing and damaging citrus trees.
Orange farmers expect a 40 per cent loss in crops this year, according to an item in FoodManufacturing.com.
That’s on top of a crop forecast at 32 per cent less than last year.
Most of Florida’s oranges are used for juice.
Citrus farmers have 72 hours to get water off the trees before significant damage and mortality occurs, said Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual Trade Association.
“That was a gut punch,” he says.
Destruction of bee hives by the hurricane is another concern.
The University of Florida estimates 380,000 honey bee colonies were in the hurricane’s path. Many colonies were destroyed and surviving bees are raiding existing colonies for honey.
A reduced bee population could affect the pollination of citrus grove blossoms next year.
A Florida senator estimated $3 billion government funding will be needed to help restore the citrus industry.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected].
