Freeze damage in the millions - Current losses may only be tip of the iceberg

Prolonged low temperatures have caused significant damage to local agriculture.

While breakdowns by individual community may not be available, industry and county total economic damage figures are in the eight-figure range.

“It will definitely be in the tens of millions. How high up in the tens of millions remains to be seen,” said Eric Larson, the executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, on the countywide damage.

The California Avocado Commission estimates that losses could range between 20 percent and 30 percent of the 400 million pounds which had been projected to be harveste...