What was the extent of the damage to the tomato crop in South Florida?

Nearly 20% of the tomato crop at Kern Carpenter Nursery was damaged by the overnight freeze.

How will the South Florida freeze affect produce prices?

Farmers warn that crop damage from the freeze will likely lead to higher prices for fruits and vegetables in the coming weeks.

Can South Florida's harvest help offset crop shortages elsewhere?

Yes, some farmers believe South Florida's harvest could help mitigate shortages caused by freeze damage in North and Central Florida.

Home / Environment / Florida Freeze Sparks Crop Fears

Florida Freeze Sparks Crop Fears

3 Feb

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Summary

Nearly 20% of tomato crop damaged by overnight freeze.
Farmers fear cold will lead to higher fruit and vegetable prices.
South Florida may offset shortages from other Florida regions.

South Florida farmers are currently assessing significant crop damage following an early Monday morning freeze. At Kern Carpenter Nursery, an estimated 20% of the tomato crop sustained damage due to the rapid drop in temperatures. Nearby, green bean farmer Sam Accursio shared visuals of his plants covered in frost, describing them as "like an ice cube." Farmers had attempted preventative measures like early morning watering, but hundreds of plants were still affected.

With another cold night predicted, growers are preparing for further potential losses. Robert Moehling Jr. of the popular Robert Is Here fruit market indicated that consumers should anticipate higher prices for produce. Accursio specifically noted that green bean prices are vulnerable to increases due to product scarcity. Despite these challenges, some farmers believe South Florida's harvest could help compensate for freeze-related shortages in North and Central Florida.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.