Hurricane Alberto has brought much needed rainfall to grapefruit plantations in central Florida. Far from the feared devastation, the effects of the weather pattern are proving beneficial for crops.

“The Indian River area actually only had about a quarter inch of rainfall and it was spotty and very light,” Doug Bournique of the Indian River Citrus League told FPJ. “Wind speeds here have been about 10-20mph and have not knocked any fruit from trees. Actually it has brought nothing but positive benefit.”

Before arriving in Florida the storm had battered Cuba, with the western part of the island most affected. So far there have been no official reports of any damage to citrus groves, although some western areas were left without electricity and residents left temporarily homeless.

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