Florida produce shipments have been even slower than normal for winter, primarily due to a prolonged cold weather period that also included some freeze damage.
South Florida growers are recovering from late January freezes that have cut shipments of sweet corn and green beans. In freezes that struck Jan. 19-24, temperatures dropped to the mid-20s in Palm Beach County, the major growing region for beans and corn and hit 31 degrees in Immokalee.
Freezing temperatures also hit central Florida’s strawberry growing region located just West of Tampa. South Bay, Fla.-based Hugh H. Branch Inc., reportedly lost up to 700 acres of winter corn.
The freeze struck the Pahokee, Fla.-area next to Lake Okeechobee. Florida corn loads in other growing regions were not hurt by the cold, including Indiantown and Homestead Homestead ships most of Florida’s winter production.
Florida vegetable shipments are anything bu heavy this time of the year, but what production there is has faced tremendous reductions in yield — well below 50 to 60 percent.
Beans in the south Florida are of Immokalee were hit by the freeze,but are not showing significant damage, with a few exceptions. However, iIt will just lessen the yields and shipments, which are down 30 percent.
It’s recommended you take a closer look than normal at what is being loading into your truck.
Central and South Florida vegetables – grossing about $2500 to New York City.