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Citrus industry looks for big recovery one year after Irma

Posted at 4:38 PM, Sep 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-18 16:38:26-04

Florida's citrus industry may have suffered one of its biggest hitin the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Now, one year later, the industry is still recovering. That includes several growers in Indian River County.

It's all quiet at the packing house, but it's almost that time again.

"We will be operating within 30 days," said Dan Richey at Riverfront Packing Company in Gifford.

At Indian River Exchange Packers, George Hamner Jr. is optimistic. "We've got ample fruit up 10-15 percent more than last year," said Hamner Jr.

Speaking of last year; what a year it was after Hurricane Irma.

"Shipped 670,000 to Japan. At our peak we were shipping 12 million to Japan," said Richey.

"Knocked down our volume by at least 30 percent," said Hamner Jr.

Growers say they are still waiting for that federal relief Congress approved earlier this year.

"Yet to receive any of it," said Richey.

So they're hoping for a big recovery this season and also next season. The industry needs it badly. Without this iconic industry, that could be bad for you.

"The impact on the consumer would be two-fold. Price would be one. We have to import product or take it from another source and cost could be a piece of the equation. And then you get the whole food safety," said Richey.

That said, the growers remain optimistic.