California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner recently met with agricultural leaders from around the Fresno County area to discuss the January 2007 crop freeze and to review the status of freeze-related insurance claims.
The meeting took place at Bee Sweet Citrus packing house, which is only partially operating now as a result of crop losses from the freeze. Poizner declared a state of insurance emergency in January resulting in an impressive response from more than 170 out-of-state insurance adjusters, who helped in avoiding advanced economic disaster.
According to the California Department of Insurance, there have only been two freeze-related consumer complaints reported to the department – one agricultural and one homeowner policy, although thousands of crop loss and homeowners ' claims were filed as a result of the freeze.
A release from CDI reports that estimates set California's crop losses from the freeze at $1.4 billion with the citrus industry being hit particularly hard, suffering an estimated $817 million in losses – or 58 percent of total agricultural losses. These figures represent losses 40 percent higher than originally thought.
“What we're hearing is 'so far, so good,'” said Poizner in a release. “However, I am committed to making sure all insurance claims are handled fairly, properly and promptly. I'm back in the Central Valley to encourage people who may have unresolved claim issues to contact my department at 1-800-927-HELP.”
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