Florida Freeze Batters Citrus Belt, Inflicts "Significant Damage" To Central Orange Groves

A severe cold snap struck Florida, causing temperatures to plummet to record lows. This deep freeze has negatively impacted the state's citrus industry, already weakened by disease and previous hurricanes. The citrus groves in central Florida suffered significant damage, with temperatures dropping below freezing for extended periods. Frozen orange trees were observed, and growers had their irrigation systems running. The cold weather caused iguanas to become cold-stunned and fall from trees. The unharvested oranges need to be picked and processed quickly to prevent spoilage. However, despite the damage, orange juice futures have fallen to three-year lows. The cold snap follows years of declines in orange juice production in Florida. The cold snap's timing and effect are not as significant because of the rise in orange juice imports from Brazil.