A deadly winter storm that swept across the United States this week has left more than people 50 dead and has destroyed nearly $1 billion worth of California's produce industry.
The harsh winter mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain has left more than 300,000 people without power from the southwestern U.S. state of Texas to the northeastern U.S. state of Maine.
A separate bout of icy weather threatens to decimate California's citrus crop.
On Tuesday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency and asked the federal government for disaster aid.
California is the nation's top producer of fresh citrus fruits, and analysts say they expect some citrus prices to at least double at the wholesale level.
Forecasters say the cold temperatures will continue through Thursday, followed by a warming trend across most of the country.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
