After five nights of freeze warnings produce truckers will now have to wait and see not if there was damage to citrus they would otherwise haul, but how much damage. Citrus growers in California’s San Joaquin Valley are starting to assess damage to mandarins and lemons.
It the fourth night of the freeze (Jan. 13) before temperatures plunged into the low- and mid-20s. That is too cold for wind machines and watering to protect some crops from frost. The anti-frost action were able to raise the temperature to 29 degrees F, which is high enough to protect navel oranges. However, a 32-degree freeze can cause freeze damge to mandarins. The freeze resistance of lemons is between those of mandarins and navels.
At this point, at least it seems the freeze damage will be much less severe compared to frequent freezes last year and in 2007. Higher sugar levels in the crops,due to a mostly mild winter this season, also should help to protect against the cold.
Citrus groves in Ventura and Riverside counties should be spared damage because they are closer to the Californias coastline. While celery loadings from Ventura county are expected to be slowed by the cold weather, no freeze damage is expected.
Overall, no matter where shipments in California originate, expect volume to be lighter than normal, more erratic and somewhat unpredictable for the next couple of weeks.
Expect a similar situation from the Arizona desert around Yuma, as well as for Mexican produce crossing the border at Nogales.
San Joaquin Valley produce – grossing about $6000 to New York City.