A snowstorm that hit Southern California on New Year’s Eve dumped up to 6 inches on parts of Riverside County and caused damages to avocado orchards that the industry is still assessing.

“Just when we thought we’d seen everything, it snowed in Temecula,” said Tom Bellamore, president of the California Avocado Commission.

About half of an estimated 330-million pound crop is expected from the state’s southern growing regions of Riverside and San Diego counties. To the north, Ventura County got some low temperatures Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 but fruit loss was expected to be minimal.

“In the areas around Temecula that got a heavy or wet snow, broken tree branches were a problem but there was less of an issue with freeze,” Bellamore said. “Others got lighter snow but the temperatures dipped more, so trees were perhaps more endangered. Some orchards were hit pretty hard by downed branches on every tree, but others had more of a frost problem that will manifest itself over time.”

What the losses in the south might amount to was still unclear.

“When the weather warms up, stems may turn brown and that’s a sign trees will shed fruit,” Bellamore said. “Some people say the heavy, wet snow was actually an insulator around the fruit. Even though it took branches down, the fruit on the tree may still be harvestable. There isn’t necessarily freeze damage.”

“We’re still taking stock and should have a better handle on it a week from now,” he said Jan. 6. “There’s probably a fair amount of tree damage in Temecula, but fruit loss I’m not sure of.”

Source - http://www.thepacker.com/