Dive Brief:
- California Citrus Mutual, a citrus growers association, says crop damage inspections at 81 packinghouses in California's Central Valley will delay fruit packing for two days.
- The inspections follow a seven-day cold spell on over 200,000 acres of groves.
- Fruit not fit for the market will be juiced.
Dive Insight:
The cold spell is bad news for the growers, supermarkets and fruit lovers alike. Not only could a lot of damaged crops drive citrus prices higher, but any return from damaged fruit sent off to be juiced will only cover the cost of harvesting it.