CLERMONT, Fla. — With a freeze warning in effect for parts of Central Florida into Saturday morning, worried citrus growers were keeping a careful eye on the weather.
What You Need To Know
- Showcase of Citrus's owner said he would run irrigation system overnight
- The water helps protect the fruit and trees from the cold
- Grower John Arnold said it can take a decade to recover if you lose a grove
- Street Level: Learn more about the history of the citrus industry in Central Florida
One of those is the Showcase of Citrus in Clermont. Owners planned to run its irrigation system Friday night into Saturday.
“With the water, anything in the spray zone would be protected," owner John Arnold said. “It goes from a liquid to solid as it's emitting energy, a tremendous amount of energy per volume. It's a unique property, and it's what gives us the cold protection.”
The irrigation system not only protects the citrus but the trees themselves, Arnold said.
“If you lose a tree, especially an entire orange grove, it's a decade before you are back to where you were before,” Arnold said.
The Showcase of Citrus has been a family-run business for 31 years.
“It's our family's baby,” Arnold said. “It's something we have worked generations to protect, and we’re proud of what we have been able to accomplish.”
Picking season began in November, and Arnold said he has a great crop of citrus this year. He will be monitoring the cool temperatures to make sure he can keep it.