Hurricane Andrew damages tropical fruit crops in South Florida.
Campbell R. J., Campbell C. W., Crane J., Balerdi C., Goldweber S.
Author Affiliation: Fairchild Tropical Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156, USA.
Fruit Varieties Journal 47 : 218-225
Abstract : A severe hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h and gusts exceeding 280 km/h, passed through south Florida's main area of tropical and subtropical fruit production on 24 Aug. 1992. Various types of damage to crops and trees are described. In general, older and taller trees suffered the most severe damage. Selective limb removal, topping and other pruning practices that reduced overall tree height and opened up the canopy greatly reduced the occurrence of windthrow (uprooting) and severe breakage. Serious injury was reported to trees of Tahiti lime (Citrus latifolia), mango, lychee, longan and sapodilla and to passion fruit vines. Damage was moderate on atemoya, avocado, banana, coconut, mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota), pawpaw and sugar apple (Annona squamosa); it was light on carambola and guava. Additional losses are expected due to the direct trauma of the hurricane, insect and disease damage, low temperatures and drought.