Ice-covered oranges. - File

A BLAST of cold air that brought flurries to the Sunshine State yesterday seems to have spared citrus crops from the major damage that growers had feared.

Citrus industry officials believe the state's groves escaped major damage, because it didn't get as cold as forecast.

When temperatures get down to 28 degrees for four hours, a tree can be ruined. While forecasts said it could get that cold overnight, temperatures hovered in the 30s in central and South Florida where most orange and grapefruit growers are based.

"Overall, this is preliminary, but it looks like we have dodged a bullet," said Rusty Wiygul, director of grower affairs for Florida Citrus Mutual.

He said there would be pockets of minor damage.

Growers were doing two things - harvesting as many mature fruits and vegetables as possible, and trying to protect plants by spraying them with water that freezes, insulating the temperature at 32.

Temperatures in many areas of northern Florida dropped into the 20s early yesterday, following the 30-degree temperatures some northern parts of the state saw Wednesday.

Snow flurries were reported near the Daytona Beach coastline, the first in Florida since 2006.

Citrus crops were not the only ones at risk in Florida. Farmers were checking on broccoli and cabbage in the north to strawberries, tomatoes, corn and citrus toward the south.

In Louisiana, strawberry farmers covered their crops with material in an attempt to protect them. Peach farmers, however, welcomed the cold, which they say benefits their fruit trees during their period of dormancy.

- AP