Labor shortage may leave Florida’s oranges unpicked. Another consequence of the immigration quandary. Your orange juice may cost more.

“As many as 6 million boxes of oranges may go unharvested in Florida this year because of a shortage of fruitpickers made worse by fears about what changes may come in immigration law.

The citrus season usually ends in late June, but will extend to at least late July this year with juice processors hoping to get as many oranges as possible off trees.

“There’s very little doubt we’ll leave a significant amount of fruit on the tree,” said Mike Carlton, the director of production and labor affairs at Florida Citrus Mutual. “Whether that’s 3 million boxes or 6 million boxes, nobody can say.”"

Stumble it! | |