Hurricane Damage To FL Citrus Industry At $3 Billion - Reuters

[hatrack]

MIAMI - "Damage to Florida's $62 billion agricultural sector from the worst hurricane season in decades will probably be around $3 billion when all the toppled citrus trees, shattered greenhouses and fallen fruit are counted, the state government said yesterday.

EDIT

Terence McElroy, spokesman for Florida agriculture commissioner Charlie Bronson, said the agriculture department had documented $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion in structural and crop damage from hurricanes Charley and Frances. Hurricane Ivan, which affected mainly cotton and peanuts in the far west of the state, and the most recent hurricane, Jeanne, which howled through prime grapefruit country, added to the industry's woes.

EDIT

The damage was spread across all sectors, from the $10 billion a year nursery industry that produces house plants and flowers, to the $9.1 billion a year citrus industry that grows premium grapefruits and oranges for the fresh fruit and juice markets. Florida supplies 75 percent of all U.S. grapefruits."

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/27463/story.htm