California’s Schwarzenegger wants citrus aid

updated 7:22 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2007

FRESNO, Calif. - From Valentine’s Day bouquets to Superbowl spreads, shoppers soon will be feeling the sting of higher prices from a wave of icy weather that has hit California farms.

As much as three-quarters of the state’s citrus crop withered in the field during the cold snap, but nearly every winter crop, from avocados to fresh-cut flowers, has suffered severely.

The shortages’ impact wasn’t lost on Joseph Vasquez, who realized what it could mean for his party plans with NFL playoffs in full swing.

“Avocados are expensive enough as it is,” the 32-year-old Pasadena school teacher said. “We may have to do without guacamole for a while. And we may be drinking our Coronas without limes.”

Price hikes still won’t be enough to offset the damage, as growers cope with nearly $1 billion in losses following four consecutive nights of subfreezing temperatures.

On Tuesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the federal government for disaster aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Small Business Administration for growers and other affected businesses.

“This is not just about the crop this year. It could also have a devastating effect next year,” Schwarzenegger said after touring a devastated orange grove in Fresno. “My administration will make sure that we do everything we can to help the farmers and workers get through this.”

The state’s citrus industry stands to take the biggest economic hit of all crops.

California is the nation’s No. 1 producer of fresh citrus, growing about 86 percent of lemons and 21 percent of oranges sold in the U.S., according to the California Farm Bureau. Florida produces more citrus overall, mostly for use in orange juice, according to the USDA.

Growers say more than 70 percent of this season’s oranges, lemons and tangerines were still on the trees as nighttime temperatures in California’s Central Valley dipped into the low 20s and teens beginning Friday. The fruit is threatened whenever the mercury falls below 28 degrees.

“Limited amounts were harvested before the freeze, so it’s not like the markets are going to dry up suddenly,” said Claire Smith, a spokeswoman for Sunkist Growers Inc., a Los Angeles-based cooperative owned by some 6,000 growers in California and Arizona.

Still, the diminished supply is bound to drive up prices, Smith said. Sunkist may import oranges and other fruit from South Africa and other countries.

“We may adjust the prices as we discover the full extent of the damage next week, but for now, if you bought an orange at the supermarket for 50 cents, expect to pay a dollar to $1.49 for it,” said Todd Steel, owner of Royal Vista Marketing, which sells California citrus to markets throughout the country.

Damages from the freeze will likely surpass those from a three-day cold snap in December 1998 that destroyed 85 percent of California’s citrus crop, a loss valued at $700 million, state Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura said.

The state also suffered a deep freeze in 1990 — one that completely wiped out the $1 billion crop. It took growers two years to recover.

Labor leaders are also watching the weather closely. They estimate as many as 12,000 field workers and packing house employees could lose their jobs for the remainder of the season.

The state may offer emergency unemployment assistance to workers laid off because of the crisis, said Henry Renteria, director of the state Office of Emergency Services.

Damaged fruit from the current freeze may still be salvaged as juice, usually a byproduct for California farmers, Smith said.

MORE FROM FOOD INC.

Food Inc. Section Front

Shoppers waste money on bad apples Restaurant profits may suffer despite stimulus Bud to keep sports marketing strong Man finds knife in Subway sandwich, sues InBev will put Bud’s patriotic reputation to test ConsumerMan: Buying organics on a budget InBev buying Anheuser-Busch for $52 billion The sweet taste of success InBev raises offer for brewer Anheuser-Busch Benihana founder Rocky Aoki dies Food Inc. Section Front   Add Food Inc. headlines to your news reader: