Florida producers have been left counting the costs of hurricane Katrina, with experts estimating crop losses to be in the region of $427 million.

The bulk of the damage appears to be in the ornamental crop area, according to the University of Florida and Miami-Dade County Extension Service experts, with damages estimated at $370m.

The fruit industry appears to have got off lightly, by comparison, with around $30m worth of damage while the veg sectors costs are thought to be in the region of $25.5m.

However the figures do not include the damage done to infrastructure, such as shade houses, or the nursery industry, which was said to have “taken a pounding”.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, along with other state, federal and county officials, is set to tour the sector to view the damage.

Growers in the area report that water in groves and nurseries is receding, but tree roots remain threatened by subsurface water.

Much of the industry was said to be in shock by the damage. “We really did not anticipate the storm being this bad,” said one grower. “We’re all in shock.”

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