Mandarin crop damaged by cold

Details

Published on 01/26/2012 - 3:27 pm

Written by Business Journal Staff

Mandarin crop damage from frost.About 20% of the mandarin crop has been damaged by cold nights, especially in Fresno and Madera, but because of more plantings, the overall crop will be about the same size this year as in 2011, California Citrus Mutual reports.

“It’s been colder in Madera and Fresno counties,” said Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual.

Volume was expected to be about 25% higher this year, so tonnage should remain about the same, Nelsen said.

However, it is a tough loss for growers sustaining mandarin damage. Damage can appear on the skin of the fruit, but more often too much cold results in dry flesh on the inside.

County agricultural commissioners want to keep the damaged fruit off the market, so they are inspecting the area mandarin crop. The reputation of the fruit, which has grown in popularity, could be damaged if poor-quality fruit reaches the market, Nelsen said.

He added that temperatures have stayed out of the 20s on recent mornings and lows in the 30s are ideal for mandarin oranges. But previous damage has been done.

About 40,000 acres of mandarins are currently grown in California. The crop is expected to continue to grow as more trees come into production, Nelsen said.