For fourteen days, California, particularly in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley, suffered a severe freeze. With subfreezing temperatures, and even some locations experiencing temperatures in the teens, the record-breaking freeze caused billions of dollars worth of damage to citrus crops, as well as other crops such as avocados, pistachios, and olives. As a result of the ruined crops, thousands of farm-workers lost their jobs.
Date of event: December 20, 1990-January 3, 1991
Impact:
- 200,000 acres of crops destroyed
- 100,000 farmworkers unemployed
- $3.4 Billion in damaged agriculture (approximately $5.6 billion today)
Related Resources:
- Contingency Plan for Extreme Cold / Freeze Emergencies: A Supporting Document to the California State Emergency Plan
- S. Hrg. 113-245: Drought, Fire and Freeze: The Economics of Disasters for America’s Agricultural Producers: Hearing Before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, February 14, 2013
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