2007年VOA标准英语-Deep Freeze Hits California Citrus Growers Hard

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
17 January 2007
 
watch Citrus Crop Problem report

California's Department of Food and Agriculture says the deep freeze that has already destroyed much of the state's citrus crop could go down as one of the worst in recent memory.  Estimates for the 2007 harvest say losses could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. That means higher prices for California produce and fewer jobs for farm workers.

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Frozen oranges on California trees

After four days of sub-zero temperatures, the head of California's Department of Food and Agriculture estimates as much as three-quarters of this year's crop has already been lost.

A.G. Kawamura says 2007 may even be worse than the three-day freeze in 1998, which destroyed 85 percent of California's citrus crop. "The general report was 70 or 80 percent of the crops still hanging in the trees, and in some of these areas, 100 percent has been lost. There will be small white crystals that will form in here and that will be a sign of frost damage."

Citrus grower Nick Hill sliced  oranges to check for damage.  He's been working day and night to save as much of his crop as he can. He sprays water to raise the ground temperature and runs large fans to keep the air circulating, but it is hard work he says. "Some people will go ahead and shut down, thinking their crop has been destroyed but I believe you got to keep running with this thing and evaluate later.  You can't give up."

Before the cold snap², nearly one billion dollars worth of citrus fruit was still awaiting harvest.

But farmers say the damage is not limited to citrus.  California grower Steve Barnard says his avocado farm was hit particularly hard. "This is the first real crop on this particular block and it's probably 90 percent gone."

For consumers, the 2007 deep freeze will mean higher prices.  At the Los Angeles farmers market, the price of navel oranges has already jumped 50 percent.

By next month, citrus grower George McEwen predicts some fruits may be harder to find. "By the first of February you will see smaller displays of citrus and hopefully from our perspective, they're going to be more expensive."

Citrus grower Henry Vega says the crop losses will also be felt by workers who rely on farms for their income.  "We have got about a thousand workers that we employ in our peak season.  Some are between January and July and I would say that we are probably going to be affected³.  At least 30 percent of that is not going to be employed."

Much of the citrus grown in California is sold fresh for the domestic⁴ market but export demand has grown in Canada and Asia.  Analysts⁵ say California's losses could mean higher prices for oranges grown in other countries.

1 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

2 snap   

n.啪地移动，突然断掉；v.猛咬，咬断，谩骂，砰然关上

参考例句：

• He broke off the twig with a snap.他啪地一声把那根树枝折断了。
• These earrings snap on with special fasteners.这副耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。