Freezing Temperatures in California Threaten Citrus Crop
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — A deep freeze in California is imperiling the state’s $1 billion citrus crop, the LA Times reports.
The National Weather Service said that many San Fernando and San Gabriel Valley areas recorded temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s overnight, while Lancaster and Palmdale recorded 16-degree lows. Long Beach, on the coast, even hit temperatures in the low 30s. A meteorologist with the NWS said it isn’t unusual for California to get cold snaps at this time of year, but they haven’t had one this cold in a while, the paper says.
Although the state’s citrus farmers were off to a good start — selling up to $300 million in citrus already — the cold temperatures are causing concern, with $1 billion in oranges, lemons, tangerines and grapefruit still on trees, according to the LA Times.
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