Florida’s embargo on citrus fruit has expired.

Freeze recovery efforts in Florida’s citrus industry shifted into high gear with the end of a shipping embargo on fresh fruit plus a round-the-clock effort to process frostbitten oranges into juice. The Florida Citrus Commission had placed a weeklong ban on shipments of fruit picked after the devastating cold spell of Jan. 20-22 in an effort to protect quality standards. As the ban was lifted, state inspectors in more than 100 major commercial packing houses began cutting and checking fruit for spoilage. No fruit even minimally affected by the frigid weather will be allowed to be packed and shipped.