GROWERS SAY CROPS OK AFTER LAST CHILL; DISASTER AVOIDED IN VENTURA COUNTY.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Daily News Staff Writer

After withstanding what was expected to be the coldest night yet in the freeze that has chilled area orchards, growers Wednesday morning breathed a momentary sigh of relief to find many crops holding their own through the icy attack.

Though county agricultural officials have not yet tallied up the loss to the industry, and expect some damages, the season's first round with the elements appeared to be waning without disastrous results.

``From what I can tell so far the damage is very light,'' said Richard Pidduck, a lemon and avocado grower in the Santa Paula Canyon whose ranch was wiped out following the 1990 freeze. ``I'm happy. This is a nice Christmas.''

But it's not over until it's over, and growers were bracing for one more night of below freezing temperatures in the mid-20s Wednesday before meteorologists expect the mercury to again start climbing back to typical levels.

``We're almost over the hump,'' said agricultural meteorologist Terry Schaeffer.

``Tonight will be the last night of general protection,'' he said, referring to the precautions farmers take against the cold. He said most areas should be back to normal by today, except the colder regions, where growers probably still will be up all night on Christmas Eve to work on the crops. ``They might be able to sleep in Friday night.''

The county's lemon crop, the biggest in the nation and a $217 million annual business, was the most susceptible in the freeze that left groves to the north in San Joaquin Valley hard hit.

Agricultural department officials will be slicing open fruit at shipping yards as the crops come to harvest in coming months to ensure that fruit potentially frozen by the weather meets state standards.

Also of concern were avocados, oranges and early season strawberries, among the local crops that make up the county produce basket.

``We won't know what kind of internal damage we have on the fruit for a few days or weeks,'' said Dave Buettner, chief deputy agricultural commissioner. ``It is too early to tell. I do suspect we'll be substantially better than the big freezes we had in 1990.''

Added Rex Laird, from the Ventura County Farm Bureau: ``My perception is there's probably been some damage. As to how severe it is, we'll have to wait and see.''

Growers around the area were bracing for the worst when the freeze warning was issued for overnight Monday, nearly eight years to the date of the harsh weather in 1990 that brought a local crop disaster and more than $100 million in damage to the county's largest industry.

The below-freezing temperatures hit earlier Tuesday than the previous night, a warning to many growers who were worried about the long, overnight cold. They say crops can be damaged by both the drop in temperature and the duration of the freeze.

And while many were breathing easier in the cold morning air as they surveyed tree leaves and young fruit for signs of damage, growers know better than to rest completely as winter unfolds.

The potential for freezing temperatures will remain through January for most crops, and through February for others.

``We're not home free,'' Pidduck said. ``We're probably about home free for this particular event.''