FROST DAMAGED PAPAYA TREE PHOTO VIA 4ROOTS FACEBOOK PAGE
The recent multi-day cold snap that wrecked yards across Central Florida also caused widespread damage to local farms, with citrus growers and Central Florida u-pick operations reporting losses that are still being tallied. It’s not looking good out there for local growers, folks.
Temperatures dropped into the 20s and low 30s for several consecutive nights, conditions that stressed crops not built to withstand prolonged cold. Most citrus growers across the state ran irrigation systems overnight to protect trees, which is a pretty common method that uses ice to keep plant tissue near freezing rather than below it. Even with those efforts, the length of the freeze proved damaging, particularly to blossoms and young fruit that had already begun developing due to unseasonally warm temperatures ahead of the freeze.
According to Central Florida Public Media, the freeze delivered another setback to Florida’s already struggling citrus industry, which has been battling citrus greening, hurricanes, and shrinking acreage for years. Agricultural experts said repeated nights of cold increase the likelihood of fruit drop and long-term damage to trees, potentially affecting both this season’s harvest and next year’s yield.
In Central Florida, farms that rely on seasonal visitors and u-pick operations are also assessing losses. News 13 reported that growers in areas like Lake, Orange, and Polk counties found crops encased in ice and are now waiting to see which plants recover. Strawberries, blueberries, sunflowers, and vegetables were among the most vulnerable, especially where freezing temperatures lingered longer than expected.
Local farm operators, like the manager at Showcase of Citrus, told News 13 that the financial impact could be significant, particularly for smaller farms that depend on winter and early spring harvests for revenue. Some said fields that appeared protected during the freeze later showed signs of internal damage once temperatures warmed, a delayed effect that is complicating earlier assessments.
Local-loving blog Lemonhearted created a handy map spotlighting local farms that Central Floridians can support post-freeze. You can click HERE to see it on Instagram or the link above to see it on their website.
