Posted 02/07/07

Citrus freeze
California freeze will leave many without oranges

Tessa Schraven | contributing writer
tschraven@smcvt.edu

California, one of the country’s major orange supply distributors, was dealt a hard blow with the recent freeze on the west coast. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a USA Today article that the country will suffer due to the freeze, as orange prices will increase and quality will decrease.

What are the local effects?

The strain on oranges may have a local effect in Vermont. Alliot Hall, the dining commons at St. Michael’s College, will be offering new types of produce in order to satisfy its students. Sodexho, the food distributor for SMC, plans to make sure that all of its produce remains fresh, according to general manager Hank Strashnick.

The strain on California oranges may have a local effect in Vermont. (Photo courtesy of Tessa Schraven)

The freeze wiped out the season’s oranges for eating and there really isn’t any other supplier, he says.

“We will offer clementines, but they are more costly because they are imported,” Strashnick says. “Apples will still be available, and possibly grapes and different types of melon. The main problem lies in the price of the oranges and how it has gone up so quickly.”

Fruits and vegetables available on-campus to students are usually brought in from California and Florida depending on the time of year and growing season, Strashnick says.

“Many things can be controlled with the technology, but you can’t control the freeze and it is the biggest danger to a growing season,” he says.

“Even if the greens are affected from the weather, they have a quicker growing cycle. If you lose them, you can get them back in six-to-eight weeks in another region, but oranges only come once a year.”

Strashnick mentions the possibility of an increasing price for orange juice as well. The changing weather has become a problem whether it's climate change or global warming, he says.

Unlike greens, which have a quicker growing cycle, oranges only come once a year, says Hank Strashnick, Sodexho general manager. (Photo courtesy of Tessa Schraven)

Getting the edge on global warming

President Bush recently identified global warming as a concern, but was brief in his thoughts about it, according to sophomore political science major Tim Warren.

“The issue has finally started to be explained and understood by average Americans,” Warren says.

“A change in climate is happening and there is a large consensus of scientists willing to admit this,” says biology professor Declan McCabe. “We as humans are causing it because of the constant release of carbon dioxide emissions.”

As carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and UV rays come through the ozone layer, the heat cannot escape the atmosphere, resulting in the greenhouse effect, says sophomore chemistry student Derek Denning.

“The result of this will cause a severe increase in the temperature of the planet and the climate will change,” he says.

The trouble behind global warming is that politicians see the economics and cost of this problem and worry too much about the country’s economy, Warren says.

Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch recently mentioned his thoughts concerning global warming.

“Today, overwhelming scientific research shows that global warming is real, it is urgent, and it requires immediate action,” Welch said in a press release after meeting with the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

“Politically motivated suppression of science is not only irresponsible, but it highlights a reckless disregard for the public we serve,” he said in the release.

Physics professor Alain Brizard says global warming is a political problem.

"There needs to be more awareness about [global warming], and people who think it's not a serious issue need to be informed." - Tina DeGrazia, junior biology major

“It is desirable for oil companies, for example, to maintain the status quo (the so-called business-as-usual approach) rather than worry about the future of Earth,” Brizard says.

“Politicians need to be stronger advocates for this change,” says junior biology major Tina DeGrazia. “They must encourage the use of different products and provide more education on this issue.”

It has existed as far back as the evolution theory, says Brizard.

“If you’re convinced that humanity can’t harm the environment then the point of view on global warming is impossible,” Brizard says.

Making it a priority

Global warming is battling for people’s attention and acknowledgment before any future plans to fight global warming are developed, Brizard says.

“There needs to be more awareness about it and people who think it’s not a serious issue really need to be informed,” DeGrazia says.

Solutions are being designed through science and different industries to reduce this harm on the world.

Brizard says that recognizing what industry produces the most damage is a huge part of the existing problem.

“Maybe a carbon dioxide budget would be needed to see who is emitting the most,” he says. “And then as the public and politicians see which sector of society is putting out a large percentage of carbon dioxide and figure out how to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions.”

The technology to make cars have better emissions efficiency is available, McCabe says.

“This is a critically important issue to Vermont and Vermonters,” Welch says in his press release. “From Vermont to California, states have realized they can and they must make a contribution toward a more sustainable future. Meaningful federal policy must follow.”

Welch also acknowledges “honest science” from the government as a major part of solutions to global warming.

The future will be based on what we can do now to help this, DeGrazia says.

“It’s definitely happening,” McCabe says. “And people around the world are beginning to recognize it.”