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San Diego's Agriculture Industry Suffering After Wildfires

San Diego County's billion-dollar agriculture industry is suffering because of the wildfires and winds. Nursery owners and avocado farmers are trying to tally their losses. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has

San Diego County's billion-dollar agriculture industry is suffering because of the wildfires and winds. Nursery owners and avocado farmers are trying to tally their losses. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

County farmers and growers are trying to get back to business. And for many it will take several weeks to repair damage to farms and greenhouses. Eric Larson is the executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau .

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Larson: For those who were hit, we're just hearing some real difficult stories from folks that they've lost considerable amount of what they had on their farms.

Larson says avocado farms near Highland Valley Road, just west of Ramona, were especially devastated.

Larson: The damage to avocado trees is absolutely phenomenal. It's just a real huge loss. Maybe in the 50, 60, 70 percent loss in that whole growing area.

Larson says losses from the Rice Fire are at least $30 million and he expects dollar losses to climb from the other fires in the county.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.