HURRICANE WILMA: The afternoon after in Florida not an assuring sign
HURRICANE WILMA: The afternoon after in Florida not an assuring sign
When a homeowner says to a newscaster that in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, his favorite backyard tree now belongs to his neighbor (considering the "possession is nine-tenths of the law" theory), you know the news cannot be much better for Florida fruit and vegetable growers.
According to an article posted on www.tcpalm.com, as of 2:32 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, Florida Power & Light Co. reported that Hurricane Wilma, which was still passing across the state, had left more than 3.2 million people without power. But having to use candles to light the way for a couple of days is likely the least of the problems that growers are facing. Fall crops were planted weeks ago, and many are only weeks away from harvesting. Unfortunately, even a bad stor m or tropical wind could have devastating effects to Florida crops at this time of the year.
"The storm has passed, although here in Oviedo we have some lingering gusts of wind," Susan Howard, director of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc., told The Produce News at 3:30 on Monday afternoon. "We are still assessing any damage to our citrus and vegetable operations in southwest and south Florida, [and] will probably be able to give you a better read tomorrow."
While there is nothing good about hurricane-strength winds and rains, at least these storms are one of Mother Nature's wraths that come with warning. Hurricane Wilma's lingering stall over the Yucatan Peninsula for a couple of days was an advantage to Florida growers as it enabled them to make some preparations to protect their crops. Most farmers had enough time to lower their water tables, secure equipment and to conduct other storm preparation chores. Still, once plants are in the ground, there is not too much grower s can do to protect them from hurricane strength winds and rain. For south Florida, that can mean a lot of produce -- as much as $360 million worth -- not including any long-term damage such as repair to fields and regaining customers who found repla cement sources.
Florida's citrus crop is particularly vulnerable because it is in the early stages of recovery from the four storms that ravaged the state in 2004. More than 40 percent of the 2004-05 citrus crop was lost because of the damage, and pr ojections for the coming season's supplies were far below average even before the threat of Wilma became evident.
Because of the damage from last year's storms, this year's crop is running somewhat later than normal, meaning that early harvests have n ot yet begun, which translates to even higher possible losses. Besides wind and rain damage to the crop, and permanent damage to grove trees, there is the biggest threat of all: that Wilma will cause canker to spread even more than it already has.
Ca rried by wind and rain, canker spread rapidly and widely following last year's storms. The tally to date is that the winds and rains from the 2004 storms caused canker to spread to an additional 70,000 acres of citrus groves which are now marked to be cut down and burned. The state's $9.1 billion citrus industry is already in a precarious position, and many wonder how much more battering it can withstand and still survive.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Florida has 44,000 commercial farms, utilizing 10.2 million acres. The state ranks first in the country in citrus production, and second in greenhouse and nursery products, tomatoes and strawberries. Approximately 30 percent of the nation's tomatoes, 24 percent of the cucumbers, 24 percent of the squash, and 15 percent of the strawberries are produced in Florida. In 2001, Florida growers harvested vegetables from 253,700 acres and received $500 million in sales from tomatoes, $180 million from green peppers, $147 million from snap beans, $121 million from sweet corn and $92 million from cucumbers..d
According to an article posted on www.tcpalm.com, as of 2:32 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, Florida Power & Light Co. reported that Hurricane Wilma, which was still passing across the state, had left more than 3.2 million people without power. But having to use candles to light the way for a couple of days is likely the least of the problems that growers are facing. Fall crops were planted weeks ago, and many are only weeks away from harvesting. Unfortunately, even a bad stor m or tropical wind could have devastating effects to Florida crops at this time of the year.
"The storm has passed, although here in Oviedo we have some lingering gusts of wind," Susan Howard, director of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc., told The Produce News at 3:30 on Monday afternoon. "We are still assessing any damage to our citrus and vegetable operations in southwest and south Florida, [and] will probably be able to give you a better read tomorrow."
While there is nothing good about hurricane-strength winds and rains, at least these storms are one of Mother Nature's wraths that come with warning. Hurricane Wilma's lingering stall over the Yucatan Peninsula for a couple of days was an advantage to Florida growers as it enabled them to make some preparations to protect their crops. Most farmers had enough time to lower their water tables, secure equipment and to conduct other storm preparation chores. Still, once plants are in the ground, there is not too much grower s can do to protect them from hurricane strength winds and rain. For south Florida, that can mean a lot of produce -- as much as $360 million worth -- not including any long-term damage such as repair to fields and regaining customers who found repla cement sources.
Florida's citrus crop is particularly vulnerable because it is in the early stages of recovery from the four storms that ravaged the state in 2004. More than 40 percent of the 2004-05 citrus crop was lost because of the damage, and pr ojections for the coming season's supplies were far below average even before the threat of Wilma became evident.
Because of the damage from last year's storms, this year's crop is running somewhat later than normal, meaning that early harvests have n ot yet begun, which translates to even higher possible losses. Besides wind and rain damage to the crop, and permanent damage to grove trees, there is the biggest threat of all: that Wilma will cause canker to spread even more than it already has.
Ca rried by wind and rain, canker spread rapidly and widely following last year's storms. The tally to date is that the winds and rains from the 2004 storms caused canker to spread to an additional 70,000 acres of citrus groves which are now marked to be cut down and burned. The state's $9.1 billion citrus industry is already in a precarious position, and many wonder how much more battering it can withstand and still survive.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Florida has 44,000 commercial farms, utilizing 10.2 million acres. The state ranks first in the country in citrus production, and second in greenhouse and nursery products, tomatoes and strawberries. Approximately 30 percent of the nation's tomatoes, 24 percent of the cucumbers, 24 percent of the squash, and 15 percent of the strawberries are produced in Florida. In 2001, Florida growers harvested vegetables from 253,700 acres and received $500 million in sales from tomatoes, $180 million from green peppers, $147 million from snap beans, $121 million from sweet corn and $92 million from cucumbers..d
