Citrus Mutual: Growers Looking at Options During Port Strike

The vice president of the group that represents California’s citrus industry says the western port shutdown is already threatening to take a huge chunk out of the industry’s annual $2.4 billion take.

Bob Blakely with California Citrus Mutual says central and southern valley growers are able to get their product onto boats, but not much further.

“But, even with that, they’re still experiencing delays of seven to 10 days, and we’ve heard as much as two-week delays in getting the fruit from the port onto the ship and into the water.”

He says Asian shipments represent $500 million alone.

– Anthony Pollreisz