California drought means shrinkage and shortage of citrus fruits

The drought in California is taking its toll on farmers and growers and starting to change the size of citrus fruit.

The scarcity of water in the state has meant that oranges, lemons and limes from California are noticeably smaller.

"It takes quite a bit of water to grow any product. This year in particular we had no rain to speak of in the winter time," Lisle Babcock, owner of Buck Brand Citrus Products in the San Joaquin Valley, told Daybreak South's Chris Walker.

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"The trees need that prior to blooming to allow their fruit to grow to a decent size."

Babcock says irrigation normally begins for the fruits in March and April, but the lack of irrigation water has made it impossible for them to grow properly.

He adds that while the sizes of the fruits are significantly smaller, the texture and taste will be relatively unaffected.

"The texture and quality of the fruit is a function of the climate more than anything else. That's not a factor."

Babcock says that he worries about the future of the citrus industry in California if either the drought continues through next year or if an alternative solution isn't found.

"The folks who don't have the funds to put in wells are going out of business. Tens of thousands of acres of citrus in my area have either been in decline or removed."

To hear more, click the audio labelled: California drought affecting size of citrus fruits.