Temperatures in the main Indian River growing area hit a low of 28°F (-2°C) at sunrise on Friday morning. 'That is the crucial temperature for citrus, but for it to affect fruit, it must be sustained for four to six hours,' Doug Bournique of the Indian River Citrus League told the Journal. 'What helped us was that the cold front didn't really push southwards down the state until late in the day so it was too late to really have an impact.' The following night was only a few degrees Fahrenheit warmer, but that was enough to put citrus beyond danger. Some 250,000 acres are under citrus production in the Indian River area of the state and commercial growers were well prepared having flooded their groves before the forecast freeze in order to lift ambient temperatures slightly and avoid frost damage. As a result, Bournique said, no growers, not even of the delicate easy-peel varieties, have reported any damage. 'We don't know of anyone getting any ice from quarter and half inch cuts on fruit along the east coast of Florida,' reported Bournique.

In fact, the freeze is likely to prove beneficial to fruit at the mid-point in the season keeping populations of pests such as the Caribbean fruit fly down as well as having a 'lawnmower effect' on weeds and vines in the groves.

In the run up to the freeze, Florida had been experiencing a cold winter with trees in dormancy and no bright green flush of leaves or blossom in evidence yet. 'In Florida, we dance with the devil and that freeze line is critical: trees need to be a bit stressed,' said Bournique.

The cold weather has also slowed growth, which is helping the industry as fruit size was already large. It is also having a refrigerating effect, which could see the season extend into late April or even May. What the sector does not want now is for temperatures to rise again to soon above the 26°C mark.

The unusual weather conditions are being attributed to the El Niño phenomenon which has brought cool, wet weather to Florida this winter replenishing water resources and topping up marshes which also helps keep ambient temperatures warmer around citrus plantations.

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