News (archive)
Texas Citrus Survives Snowfall
Texas Citrus Survives Snowfall...Business As Usual for Shippers December 27, 2004; Mission, Texas ý The Rio Grande Valley was surprised by its first snowfall in 109 years over the holiday weekend. Although temperatures dipped into the twenties and thirties at times, precipitation and cloud cover held a hard freeze at bay. Mike Martin of Rio Queen Citrus said, ýWe had several recording thermometers out and the coldest we found was 27 degrees. We donýt think there is any impact at this point. We did not find ice in the fruit when cutting Saturday morning and that is the tell tale sign. We think the ice and snow actually insulated the fruit from the cold. It is business as usual here.ý The Rio Grande Valley of Texas has nearly 27,000 acres of commercial citrus, of which about 75 percent is grapefruit and 25 percent is oranges. Damage to the crop generally begins when temperatures fall below 28 degrees for more than two to three hours. However, there are key variables that affect crop and tree damage, including: cloud cover, humidity and/or rain, wind, tree maturity, citrus variety, grove elevation and opportunity for irrigation. Because variables were very favorable in the case of the weather experienced this weekend little damage has been reported. Richard Walsh, of Headýs Valley Farms and TexaSweet Board of Directors President, said, ýWe are always at the mercy of Mother Nature in this business and thankfully she was on our side this weekend. We continue to be on track for a successful citrus season.ý Rio Grande Valley growers of vulnerable vegetables and greens, such as tomatoes and mustard, have reportedly experienced significant losses on account of the weather. However, hardier crops, including onions and cabbage, apparently emerged undamaged. TexaSweet Citrus Marketing, inc., chartered in 1962, represents the domestic marketing and promotional interests of growers and shippers of fresh Texas Grapefruit and Oranges. #
October 10th, 2007