Nurseries the Biggest Losers : Frost Damage: $32 Million

Orange County agriculture officials Thursday released figures estimating $32 million in crop damage due to last December’s frost, according to John Ellis, Orange County deputy agriculture commissioner.

Officials said the cold snap had ruined about 30% of the first harvest of fruit and blooms.

“We have identified four areas most affected,” Ellis said.

Nurseries incurred the largest financial loss, estimated at $25 million, followed by the strawberry industry at $5 million. General row crops, such as lettuce, cabbage and cauliflower suffered an estimated $1-million loss. The avocado industry, he said, also estimated losses of $1 million.

Among the nursery stock--from greenhouses to outside production--certain species, such as ficus, hibiscus, coral trees, begonias and impatiens, were more severely affected, he said.

“Valencia oranges and avocados were not severely affected by cold weather but (suffered) a high fruit drop due to wind,” Ellis said.

Ten days of cold, windy weather preceded the Christmas frost, said Thelma Moses, manager of the Orange County Farm Bureau.

“Many of the avocados dropped from the trees. (With the frost), it was a double whammy,” she said.

Strawberries, which are the county’s second-leading agricultural crop behind nursery stock, are currently showing their second generation of blooms, although they are about four weeks behind.

“If you look at the fields, you can see white spots on the green plants,” she said.

But most county growers were well-prepared for the frost, which reached the low 20s in most production areas in the county. The coldest period occurred during Christmas weekend, he said.

To prevent the frost from setting on the ground and plants, many farmers used sprinkling systems and wind machines, which helped raise the temperature about 4 degrees.

“The growers seem optimistic. They weren’t affected as badly as they thought they’d be,” said Ellis.

The strawberry season, he said, continues for about six months or until the weather becomes warm.

Strawberry crops in Orange County will probably be delayed until the middle of February, according to Larry Simmons, president of State Wide Sales, growers, shippers and distributors of win1952805408cauliflower and celery.

“I’ve been out in the fields every morning and every time you look out there, it makes you sick,” Simmons said.

The actual extent of damage, he said, depends on different fields: how close they are to the coast, the ground temperature and weather at the time of planting.

“There’s no set pattern. Mother Nature dictates everything,” he said.