Drought In South Fla. Could Affect Local Grocery Prices

POSTED: 6:55 am EDT August 8, 2007

UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT August 8, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Along with the rise in mercury, the price for power and produce will be going up. A drought has cost the state more than $100 million so far this year and the state is warning that prices could go up at the grocery store.Oranges, orange juice, sugar products and vegetables may all go up in price. Officials planned to meet Wednesday to go over possible options to prevent the price hike.Farmers around Lake Okeechobee say there isn't enough water to get them through the dry season. Some said they wouldn't even plant their crops this season.Lake Okeechobee has been below its normal level for the past 18 months. The lake stores irrigation for about 700,000 acres making it the states largest agricultural area and one of the top three in the country.State Agricultural Commissioner Charles Bronson warned that a downturn in the late spring crop will mean higher prices in stores for certain products and a lot of people would be out of work.

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