News of Wilma damage worsens as communications return to industry
News of Wilma damage worsens as communications return to industry
As days passed following Hurricane Wilma's sweep through south Florida on Oct. 24, it became increasingly apparent that the damage was much worse than initially thought. For some growers, it caused a total loss of crops, and many are still assessing the damage a week later.
"Our communications with our citrus and vegetable operations in south Florida have been difficult," said Susan Howard, director of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc. in Belle Glade, FL. "We were as prepared as possible, and we are recovering quickly to the structural damage sustained to our packinghouses and citrus processing plant. Our fall sweet corn is lost, and we will be replanting radishes and leaf and lettuce items. Our celery is still intact in the beds, so we will have to wait and see how well it recovers. However, we transplant celery throughout the fall and winter in Florida, so new plants will be in the ground soon. On the citrus side, we did experience fruit drop of both our grapefruit and orange crop, more significantly our grapefruit. We will be assessing over the next few weeks how this will impact our fresh citrus season."
As soon as power is restored to Duda's Belle Glade operation, it plans to begin shipping out of its packinghouse and cooler. Its citrus packinghouse was back up and running on Wednesday following the storm, and the company was harvesting as much fruit as possible for processing.
Ms. Howard added that the most significant damage was to the company's employee housing in Belle Glade.
"We are working quickly to locate mobile homes to replace those that were lost," she said. "All of our employees are safe, and we are providing water, food and personal necessities to their families."
She added that the company's representatives were working from their cellular phones until land phone lines are back in service.
"It's terrible," Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers, said of its Boynton Beach farm. "Our losses could be between 50 and 75 percent, but it could even be much worse than that. It will be weeks before we have an accurate assessment of the damage. Overall, however, I would say that we were close to being wiped out."
Northampton grows a full line of field vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers, spinach and greens. It grows in all primary growing regions in the eastern United States.
"Commissioner Bronson was in South Florida twice last week, and was widely quoted as saying that the damage is devastating," said Terence McElroy, press secretary at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. "He said the damage to crops and agriculture-related structures is certainly more than $1 million, and so we are seeking financial assistance from both the state and federal governments to help those in the industry in the recovery process."
The citrus industry also suffered major losses from Hurricane Wilma's wrath. On Monday, Oct. 31, Florida Citrus Mutual released preliminary figures representing an estimated statewide citrus crop loss impact due to the storm. The report indicated that Hurricane Wilma reduced the overall citrus harvest for the upcoming season by 17 percent of the total crop -- approximately 35.7 million boxes of fruit. The result will be almost $180 million in crop loss based on price expectations following the Oct. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop estimate.
FCM also said that the loss figure is for fruit only and does not represent tree loss and replanting costs or damage costs associated with barns, equipment, processing and packing facilities, which will increase the overall economic loss the industry will face. Based on experience from the 2004 hurricanes, growers expect more fruit to fall within the next few weeks, adding to total fruit loss figures.
"This is a very preliminary figure that could increase as additional damage is discovered and industry losses are calculated," said Andy LaVigne, Florida Citrus Mutual's executive vice president and chief executive officer.
Estimates show a preliminary loss of 24.4 million boxes of oranges, representing 13 percent of the state's orange crop. For grapefruit, estimates show a preliminary loss of 11.3 million boxes, which represents 47-percent of the state's crop.
Florida citrus growers supply 80 percent of the U.S. orange juice supply and 38 percent of the world orange juice supply. Approximately 96 percent of the Florida orange crop is processed into juice. Florida is typically the world leader in grapefruit production.
Danny Raulerson, director of marketing and international trade for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, took a drive through the devastated areas on Friday, Oct. 28. to personally assess the damage.
"I drove from Immokalee to West Palm Beach, following the path of the storm, visiting the farmlands," he said. "From what I could see, all the crops have been affected from wind, rain and flooding or a combination of these factors. It is impossible to ascertain the exact level of damage, but visually it appears that the percentage of loss falls into the 50 to 100 percent range. The citrus industry lies further north, and although it is reporting major losses, it is not as high a percent as what field crops have suffered in this zone."
FFVA is gathering its own data and will compare them to data that the FDACS and other agencies will release in the coming days. Mr. Raulerson added that what growers do at this point will be determined by several factors, including their location, the commodity and if replanting this late in the season is economically feasible.
"My assessment is that the majority of field lettuce was wiped out," he said. "Some growers may have some warm land, such as the Belle Glade area for example. If they do, and they can get another crop planted fast enough, they may have a crop ready for the end of the year. However, they may also decide that it's going to run too close to the spring crop, or that other factors make it too risky. We simply cannot guess at how each grower will weigh the many factors they must consider in their decision processes."
Although south Florida growers have experienced hurricanes and tropical storms throughout the years, none has hit the state as late in the season as did Hurricane Wilma. The majority of crops were mere weeks away from harvesting, resulting in the worst possible crop scenario. Major television networks and newspapers across the country are already speculating about the higher prices consumers will find at grocery stores this winter because of Hurricane Wilma.
"Our communications with our citrus and vegetable operations in south Florida have been difficult," said Susan Howard, director of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc. in Belle Glade, FL. "We were as prepared as possible, and we are recovering quickly to the structural damage sustained to our packinghouses and citrus processing plant. Our fall sweet corn is lost, and we will be replanting radishes and leaf and lettuce items. Our celery is still intact in the beds, so we will have to wait and see how well it recovers. However, we transplant celery throughout the fall and winter in Florida, so new plants will be in the ground soon. On the citrus side, we did experience fruit drop of both our grapefruit and orange crop, more significantly our grapefruit. We will be assessing over the next few weeks how this will impact our fresh citrus season."
As soon as power is restored to Duda's Belle Glade operation, it plans to begin shipping out of its packinghouse and cooler. Its citrus packinghouse was back up and running on Wednesday following the storm, and the company was harvesting as much fruit as possible for processing.
Ms. Howard added that the most significant damage was to the company's employee housing in Belle Glade.
"We are working quickly to locate mobile homes to replace those that were lost," she said. "All of our employees are safe, and we are providing water, food and personal necessities to their families."
She added that the company's representatives were working from their cellular phones until land phone lines are back in service.
"It's terrible," Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers, said of its Boynton Beach farm. "Our losses could be between 50 and 75 percent, but it could even be much worse than that. It will be weeks before we have an accurate assessment of the damage. Overall, however, I would say that we were close to being wiped out."
Northampton grows a full line of field vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers, spinach and greens. It grows in all primary growing regions in the eastern United States.
"Commissioner Bronson was in South Florida twice last week, and was widely quoted as saying that the damage is devastating," said Terence McElroy, press secretary at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. "He said the damage to crops and agriculture-related structures is certainly more than $1 million, and so we are seeking financial assistance from both the state and federal governments to help those in the industry in the recovery process."
The citrus industry also suffered major losses from Hurricane Wilma's wrath. On Monday, Oct. 31, Florida Citrus Mutual released preliminary figures representing an estimated statewide citrus crop loss impact due to the storm. The report indicated that Hurricane Wilma reduced the overall citrus harvest for the upcoming season by 17 percent of the total crop -- approximately 35.7 million boxes of fruit. The result will be almost $180 million in crop loss based on price expectations following the Oct. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop estimate.
FCM also said that the loss figure is for fruit only and does not represent tree loss and replanting costs or damage costs associated with barns, equipment, processing and packing facilities, which will increase the overall economic loss the industry will face. Based on experience from the 2004 hurricanes, growers expect more fruit to fall within the next few weeks, adding to total fruit loss figures.
"This is a very preliminary figure that could increase as additional damage is discovered and industry losses are calculated," said Andy LaVigne, Florida Citrus Mutual's executive vice president and chief executive officer.
Estimates show a preliminary loss of 24.4 million boxes of oranges, representing 13 percent of the state's orange crop. For grapefruit, estimates show a preliminary loss of 11.3 million boxes, which represents 47-percent of the state's crop.
Florida citrus growers supply 80 percent of the U.S. orange juice supply and 38 percent of the world orange juice supply. Approximately 96 percent of the Florida orange crop is processed into juice. Florida is typically the world leader in grapefruit production.
Danny Raulerson, director of marketing and international trade for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, took a drive through the devastated areas on Friday, Oct. 28. to personally assess the damage.
"I drove from Immokalee to West Palm Beach, following the path of the storm, visiting the farmlands," he said. "From what I could see, all the crops have been affected from wind, rain and flooding or a combination of these factors. It is impossible to ascertain the exact level of damage, but visually it appears that the percentage of loss falls into the 50 to 100 percent range. The citrus industry lies further north, and although it is reporting major losses, it is not as high a percent as what field crops have suffered in this zone."
FFVA is gathering its own data and will compare them to data that the FDACS and other agencies will release in the coming days. Mr. Raulerson added that what growers do at this point will be determined by several factors, including their location, the commodity and if replanting this late in the season is economically feasible.
"My assessment is that the majority of field lettuce was wiped out," he said. "Some growers may have some warm land, such as the Belle Glade area for example. If they do, and they can get another crop planted fast enough, they may have a crop ready for the end of the year. However, they may also decide that it's going to run too close to the spring crop, or that other factors make it too risky. We simply cannot guess at how each grower will weigh the many factors they must consider in their decision processes."
Although south Florida growers have experienced hurricanes and tropical storms throughout the years, none has hit the state as late in the season as did Hurricane Wilma. The majority of crops were mere weeks away from harvesting, resulting in the worst possible crop scenario. Major television networks and newspapers across the country are already speculating about the higher prices consumers will find at grocery stores this winter because of Hurricane Wilma.
