Grapefruit movement is down to the last few thousand boxes and they are also going to fresh juice processors. All of this State's big processors are closed for the season. Caretakers have been very active cutting cover crops that have grown out of control with the help of the recent rains. Second and third sprayings for insect control along with herbicid ing continue in all areas of the citrus belt. Dead tree removal and replanting have been reported in some of the larger grove operations.
Producers continue to pick a small summer crop for local markets.
Many stations recorded temperatures at 100 degrees or higher during July with the heat indices much higher. Quincy tomato planting got underway about mid-July as watermelon growers finished harvest of the spring crop. The threat of bad weather from Tropical Storm Alex disappeared in late July as the storm weakened and veered away from the State. July temperatures at the major stations mostly averaged one to two degrees above normal while rainfall ranged from about five and a half inches at Miami to about sixteen and a half inches at Tallahassee. Strong winds and tornadoes during August storms caused varying amounts of property damage with no significant damage to the vegetable crops.