The impact of Hurricane Debby on the cold-hardy citrus region appears minimal, according to one industry expert.
Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission, said any damage from the wind-heavy storm was limited to the younger citrus trees. Savelle has groves in Georgia’s Thomas County.
YOUNG TREES
“When we get a storm like that, I’m on the phone with folks, texting, ‘How did you do?’ Most everyone’s citrus did pretty well,” Savelle said. “I had one guy write me back to say their young trees, just like ours, got pushed over. But pushing over is one thing; breaking off is another. Some of the young trees and resets got pushed over, but that’s not anything we can’t push back up.”
The cold-hardy citrus region includes fruit produced in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. Citrus production in the region has spiked in recent years with additional trees being planted. Those young trees were more susceptible to the high wind speeds that accompanied Hurricane Debby’s trek through the region.
“They’re just not as established, so they don’t have an anchor,” said Savelle of the young trees. “But that can all be fixed, so we’re very fortunate. We’ve got a lot of limbs down and a couple of pine trees down, but it could have been a whole lot worse.”
FRUIT INTACT
According to Savelle, the storm appears to have had little impact on the trees’ fruit for the upcoming season.
“The other good thing is I haven’t heard anyone say that they’ve lost any fruit. When a hurricane comes through, the bigger trees might make it, but the fruit that’s on them can get damaged. Basically, it squishes the fruit and makes it mushy inside. But no one had that this time that I’ve heard,” Savelle said. “I think we’re going to be okay.”
Share this Post
About the Author
Sponsored Content