MIAMI – Hurricane Frances (search) caused damage estimated at $200 million to Florida's citrus growers, on top of an estimated $285 million in losses from Hurricane Charley three weeks before, industry group Florida Citrus Mutual (search) said Friday.
"This is a second massive hit to Florida citrus growers as a high percentage of both the orange and grapefruit crop have suffered losses during these storms," Andy LaVigne, chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual, said in a statement.
Earlier, initial estimates of the citrus crop damage caused by Charley had been put at $150 million, but that did not include buildings or inventories. The hurricane swept ashore on Florida's southwest coast on Aug. 13.
Frances, a less powerful but much bigger storm, came ashore on Florida's Atlantic coast last the weekend and roared through grapefruit-growing areas.
Florida's $9.1 billion citrus industry supplies 75 percent of the U.S. grapefruit market.
Florida Citrus Mutual said farmers remained anxious as Hurricane Ivan (search), which at one point reached top-level Category 5 strength with catastrophic 160 mph winds, aimed for Jamaica on Friday on a track that could take it to Florida.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox