California fires cost agriculture £23m

The Southern Californian agriculture sector is licking its wounds to the cost of around £23 million after last month's wildfires. Avocados were the hardest hit of all crops.

Figures released this week by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) represent the first official estimates of damage caused by the fires that swept a large part of the State between October 21 to 25.

Four counties were badly affected, and avocado farmers have suffered most, with 60 per cent of the overall loss coming in that category.