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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Florida Citrus Heavily Damaged by Hurricane Charley: On Monday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson toured some of the key citrus-growing counties that were struck by Hurricane Charley. Hard hit were Polk, Hardee, and DeSoto counties, among the state's largest citrus-producing counties. Less damage was reported in Charlotte, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. The 7 counties account for 35 percent of the state's 800,000 acres of citrus groves. Press reports indicate that the hurricane knocked oranges and grapefruit off trees and toppled trees. According to news reports, up to 20 percent of Florida’s citrus crop could be lost. On Monday, orange juice future prices on the New York Board of Trade for November delivery rose the exchange limit of 5 cents, or 7.9 percent, to 68 cents a pound. This is the biggest gain since July 2001. It is uncertain whether or not imports of orange juice from Brazil (the United States’ largest import supplier) will rise. Florida has significant orange juice stocks as a result of the large 2003/04 crop and sluggish demand caused by the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. The Florida citrus industry has a $9 billion economic impact and employs nearly 90,000 people, according to Florida Citrus Mutual, a growers' organization.
Hurricane Charley damages ornamental and nursery product sector: Hurricane Charley inflicted some of its heaviest damage on Florida’s ornamental and nursery product sector. The total damage is estimated at $100 - $200 million, with reports of widespread damage to the greenhouses used to produce the potted plants, flowers and seedlings. The Florida nursery sector, the second largest in the United States, was a major agricultural earner, with revenues of $1.6 billion in 2002. The sector contributed an estimated $10.7 billion dollars to the state economy in 2002.
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