Cold shatters records at Archbold, damages citrus

Sunday night's record breaking freeze has damaged the county's citrus crops although growers are still assessing the extent of damage.

"There's no doubt that last night was the worst in regards to damage over the last eight or nine nights," said Ray Royce, executive director the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association Inc.

The unusual cold spell that hit the county about a week ago damaged fruit in areas where the temperature dropped below freezing for more than five hours.

Royce said fruit damage typically occurs when temperatures dip below 28 degrees for more than five hours.

On Monday, Blue Head Ranch, which is southwest of Lake Placid, reported less than 2 percent damage to its citrus groves. They are still assessing the damage to the strawberries and blueberries.

"As of right now it doesn't seem to be much," said Susie Bishop, business development director for Atlanticblue.

According to the National Weather Service, Lake Placid's low was 26 degrees Sunday night with temperatures below freezing for more than 11 hours. Archbold Biological Center recorded a low of 20 degrees, breaking the Jan. 11 1970 record of 22 degrees.

"It is quite a bit below normal," said Logan Johnson, National Weather Service meteorologist.

When pickers Éclair Senatus and Selaire Cenatus arrived to Robert J. Barben Inc. citrus groves in Avon Park Monday morning, they had their work cut out for them.

"The ice formed at the bottom of the tree...we had to shake the tree to loosen the fruit," Senatus said.
Saturday morning was no better. Their crew of 12 turned back because the rain and cold didn't allow for good working conditions.

"We went days without working because it was too cold," Cenatus said.

To prevent frost and freeze from furthering damaging the citrus fruit, some growers began turning on their irrigation pumps by 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Growers say they run the irrigation system until the temperature comes up to around 34 degrees.

"This is something that our industry hasn't seen in a while," Royce said.

Although it is not like the catastrophic 1985 freeze, growers are expecting to collect less juice this picking season.

It's too early to tell the extent of damage to citrus, strawberries and other crops but the icicle formations on citrus fruits is all too telling.

"We had some damage from frost and freeze last year but this year it is worse," Royce said.

Weather at a glance
Sebring
Sunday's low was 31 degrees from late evening to sunrise and stayed below freezing for eight hours.
Lake Placid
Sunday's low was 26 degrees from late evening to sunrise and stayed below freezing for eight hours.
Archbold Biological Center
Sunday's low was 20 degrees and remained below freezing for 11 hours. It was below 27 degrees for nine hours.
What to expect this week
Highlands County will gradually warm up this week. Although morning frost is expected Tuesday, by Wednesday the high is expected to be 65 degrees with a low of 41 degrees.