Unseasonably cold weather along the east coast, particularly in Florida, left a damper on the winter citrus season. Some estimates suggest Florida may lose anywhere from five to 20 percent of its citrus crops.

Although the losses do not appear catastrophic, some farms in central Florida suffered total loses. Consequently, prices for oranges and juice rose.

The U.S. citrus industry faces a two-front battle this winter as California continues to monitor the arrival of a citrus parasite that already decimated China, India and Brazil. Agricultural officials have quarantined several groves to contain the migration of the parasite, which probably entered the state from Mexico.

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