California wildfires: Businesses face ruin as blaze rages

Much of California's avocado crop has been destroyed by wildfires that have ripped through the southern part of the state, industry experts say.

"We've lost at least several hundred acres of avocados, probably more," the California Avocado Commission told agriculture news site AgNet West.

About 90% of US avocados are grown in California, and the industry is worth millions to the economy.
About 5,700 firefighters have been battling the fires, officials say.

One death has been confirmed - that of a 70-year-old woman found in her car on Wednesday. Three firefighters have been injured and about 500 buildings destroyed.

There are now fears the fires will have serious implications for California's vast agricultural industry.

Last season's avocado harvest produced a crop worth more than $400m (£300m), according to the California Avocado Commission. Much of this was grown on family-owned farms in the south of the state.
 BBC
9/12/17
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