Fresh Fruit Prices Rising: Reduced supplies of...

Fresh Fruit Prices Rising: Reduced supplies of fresh fruit caused by California’s late December freeze and a smaller apple crop are forcing prices up, the Agriculture Department said. Fresh fruit prices set record highs in January. The highs are expected to continue until harvests of late-spring and summer fruit begin. “Despite damage sustained in California . . . U.S. citrus production . . . is expected to exceed last season’s,” the department said.Florida had a bumper orange crop this season.