Florida citrus growers lost more than three per cent of their predicted grapefruit crop during last month's cold snap, according to estimates released on Tuesday by the US Department of Agriculture.
Already anticipating a crop around 10 per cent lighter than last year's, that figure has now been revised to 13 per cent.
Orange growers have been worst affected by the freeze, however, with what was expected to a bigger crop than in 2009 now expected to be 21 per cent down.
The grapefruit crop estimate for February was 18.8m field boxes (90lbs/40kg), down from 19.5m boxes in January, Associated Press reported.
In spite of the predictions, growers were relieved the damage wasn't more extensive, given Florida endured eight consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures last month.
'We were lucky considering it was the most sustained cold air mass that we know of in modern citrus history,' said Doug Bournique, executive vice-president of the Indian River Citrus League.
'I think everybody is breathing a sigh of relief that we still have what we have because we still have a good crop going.'
The new USDA forecast put Florida's orange crop at 129m field boxes, down from the January estimate of 135m.
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