More from the article...

.... Nearly three weeks after deadly Hurricane Milton tore through Florida's prime citrus producing region, industry leaders are still assessing how big a hit already ailing growers may have absorbed, although many are optimistic a worst-case scenario was averted.

Orange and grapefruit producers had just barely recovered from 2022's Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and were already facing an upcoming growing season in which orange production was expected to plunge by 16% when Milton arrived Oct. 9.

The storm blasted directly through Florida's Citrus Belt, including Polk, Highlands, Hardee, Polk, Desoto, and St. Lucie counties, damaging trees, blowing fruit off branches, producing downpours and spawning deadly tornadoes, including a twister in St. Lucie County that killed six people and significantly damaged an iconic family-owned citrus business.

An initial estimate by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued Oct. 17 put the statewide crop and infrastructure losses from Milton at between $1.5 billon and $2.5 billion.

That number didn't separate out citrus losses from other crops, but the agency noted the majority of the state's citrus acreage was in Milton's path and that "significant production losses" are expected. ...