PBA Survey Measures Frost Damage to California Crop

The late season frost on April 20 impacted a wide area, although severe damage was limited to lower lying areas and cold pockets. Nearly 50 farmers, representing 8,000 acres of prune trees, responded to a PBA crop survey conducted to determine the extent of crop damage.

Respondents reported that 7% of the acreage suffered severe frost damage with near total crop loss. ‘If that percentage is representative of the main growing area,’ says PBA Manager, Greg Thompson, ‘it would mean about 3,500 acres were wiped out. In dollar terms, that amounts to over 12 million dollars in crop loss, not counting the acreage that suffered light to moderate damage.’