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As cold air masses move into Florida with no warmth to stop them, temperatures dipped significantly in the Sunshine State. The Florida orange crop, second largest in the world, could suffer an estimated 21% drop in supply since last year. Florida Department of Citrus Economist Mark Brown says the freeze caused a large reduction in oranges, but some crops can still salvaged if only slightly damaged

Florida supplies more than three quarters of the U.S. orange crop and its citrus industry accounts for about 40% of the world's orange juice supply. About 20% of the state's crop has to be ruined for prices to rise and even in a worst case weather scenario, only about 5 to 10% of the crop. Due to a large inventory of orange juice in the start of the season, Brown says that there should not be a price increase in the near future.

Citrus crops become damaged if temperatures fall 28 degrees or below for four hours or longer. Reports of damage to citrus leaves from the freeze can also affect development of the 2010/2011 crops.

The U.S. Agriculture Department anticipates 135 million boxes for the 2009 and 2010 crop, the second lowest since 2000