Posts Tagged “Florida freeze”
The devastation of the freeze in Florida about a month ago is now being fully realized with the report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
From blueberries to strawberries and citrus, as well as sugar cane and vegetables, losses were heavy.
A preliminary estimate reveals $3.1 billion from winter’s freeze.
The strawberry and blueberry industries were the hardest hit, according to the report. The former suffered an estimated production loss of approximately 80 percent of the remaining harvest, which roughly translates into $306.9 million in losses.
As far as blueberries are concerned, the extreme cold killed floral buds, led to dropped fruit, and caused plant limbs to break under the weight of cold protection. Growers reported the freeze will not only affect this year’s harvest, but harvests for years to come, the FDACS notes.
Estimated production losses in the Florida blueberry industry preliminarily total 90 percent of the crop, translating to freeze damage valued at approximately $78.5 million.
Meanwhile, citrus, the Sunshine State’s most important crop, suffered the loss of 15 percent of its trees due to freeze damage, along with a huge financial blow estimated at $675 million.
The grand total encompasses tree and infrastructure damage, estimated at $327 million and $41.5 million, respectively, as well as total losses for damaged fruit totalling $85.2 million.
The FDACS report also includes a freeze-damage forecast, with losses calculated at $220.5 million.
The industry will face an average annual loss in productivity of 27 percent that will persist for several years before returning to pre-storm production, the state agency explains.
“It is estimated that 80 percent of the total acres of citrus in Florida were significantly affected by the freeze damage,” the report continued.
As a big vegetable producer, Florida also experienced great freeze losses in commodities such as snap beans, bell peppers, eggplants, artichokes, broccoli, and leafy greens, among others. The FDACS calculates that losses in this category amount to $554.6 million.
Tomato and bell pepper producers lost 80 percent of their crops right before the middle of the season, resulting in $164 million and $108 million in losses, respectively. Sweet corn losses, meanwhile, amount to $255 million and potatoes to $79.1 million.
Watermelons were also affected, with an estimated 33 percent production loss. With the entire growing season still ahead, the state agency estimated a financial blow of $65.4 million.
Florida is also a major sugarcane producer, with an industry worth $1.6 billion in 2025. The sector suffered a significant blow, as freeze damage will not only affect the current season crop, but those to come. Estimated production losses total 35 percent and are valued at $1.65 billion, with current-season losses of $576 million.