Central Valley citrus growers have been waiting for temperatures around 30°F to enable them to get harvesting. Jared Gomes with Pro Citrus Network: "It needs the cold weather to develop the sugar content and the flavor. The cold temperature also gives the fruit more life on the shelf once it gets to the store."
Lemons, naval oranges and mandarins are among the main crops in focus. Jared Gomes says while the cold is helpful, they don't want too much of a good thing since it can lead to damage like frostbite.
The National Weather Service says, unfortunately, it's predicting a dry winter but will remain on top of sending out alerts in hopes of helping as much as possible. About 90 percent of fresh citrus production in the country comes from the Golden State, and of that, 80 percent comes from the Central Valley.
Source: abc30.com