Florida's agriculture commissioner Charles Bronson said on Wednesday that while Ernesto, the fifth named storm of the hurricane season may not be a catastrophic storm, it could still cause problems for Florida's citrus industry as winds and heavy rains may have spread citrus canker farther north.
The last two seasons of devastating hurricanes not only ruined grapefruit crops, but also spread canker so far that the federal government decided in January it was no longer worthwhile trying to contain it.
Bronson promised that the Florida department of agriculture will put more workers in the field to see if they can find canker in areas that had not been affected before Ernesto.
The disease is already present in 23 Florida counties and the arrival of Ernesto has brought fears that the renowned Indian River grapefruit area could be next in line.
There is already some grapefruit almost ripe on the trees and the strong winds risked knocking fruit from the trees as well as spreading the devastating plant disease.
Ernesto slowed to 30mph as it swept over Florida towards the Carolinas leaving growers hopeful for their crops.
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