Last weekend’s cold snap wasn’t severe enough to damage this season’s citrus crop. But, Mike Sparks, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, said the cold temperatures, on the heels of unseasonably warm weather, could impact next year’s harvest.
“The trees are about three weeks ahead and there’s a bloom or a flush for next year’s crop out there,” he said. “And just this week that little cold front could hurt the bloom – or next year’s crop.”
Sparks said his year’s harvest is at the half way point – with a good crop of Valencia oranges – most of which are processed into orange juice. Citrus is a $9 billion industry in Florida.
