A prolonged winter weather system sweeping across the southeastern United States is raising serious concerns for Florida’s specialty crop sector, with state officials seeking federal disaster assistance and industry sources warning of potential supply disruptions across several produce categories.
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Florida’s average daily minimum temperature difference from January’s 30-year average. Source: Expana and The Weather Company
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson recently requested a disaster declaration from the USDA, citing forecasts that call for sub-freezing temperatures reaching unusually southern production regions, including Collier and Broward counties. The weather event has been accompanied by sustained winds estimated at 20–30 mph with higher gusts, conditions that market participants say increase the risk of widespread crop damage.
The freeze threat spans a wide range of Florida’s key winter commodities, including avocados, bell peppers, broccoli, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, citrus, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, strawberries, squash, and tomatoes. Market sources note that Florida plays a critical role in supplying fresh vegetables during winter months when production in other US regions is limited, meaning any sustained weather damage could quickly ripple through supply chains.
In his request to the USDA, Simpson emphasized that growers have already implemented protective measures but indicated that the severity and duration of the cold could still result in meaningful production losses. Industry participants broadly expect federal support programs administered through the Farm Service Agency and other USDA channels to be activated if damage assessments confirm significant losses.
Meteorologists continue to warn that frost conditions could persist, with forecasts indicating additional nights of temperatures falling into the 30s across large portions of the state. Market participants suggest that extended exposure to cold conditions is often more damaging than brief freezes, particularly for tender vegetable crops and fruiting plants already in active production cycles.
“Minimum daily temperatures were above average during the first half of January, until January 16, when they dropped about 8°C below the historical average. Temperatures then fluctuated, with two further temperature dips of roughly 8-8.5°C below the historical norm on January 19 and 27. Citrus fruits are currently maturing, and are particularly vulnerable to freezing temperatures, as exposure to frost limit growth, damage fruits, and impact citrus tree health. If trees are significantly weakened by extreme weather, then it could even hinder upcoming flowering periods, with the orange flowering season beginning in March,” observed Demelza Knight, Weather and Crop Researcher, Expana.
Beyond vegetables, berry production is emerging as one of the most immediately impacted categories. The North American Blueberry Council has publicly pledged support for affected growers, noting that the organization is working to connect producers with available resources and advocate for industry relief efforts. While the full extent of blueberry crop impacts remains unclear, market observers suggest early-season volumes could face localized disruptions.
Strawberries, a cornerstone of Florida’s winter produce industry, appear to have sustained notable damage in key production areas such as Plant City. According to industry sources, significant portions of early February harvests were rendered unsellable following extended freezing conditions. Although growers deployed freeze mitigation techniques, including irrigation-based icing methods designed to insulate plants, sources indicate that the intensity and duration of the cold limited their effectiveness.
The freeze follows closely behind recent hurricane-related disruptions, compounding financial strain on growers already managing storm recovery. Industry sources describe the back-to-back weather events as highly challenging for farm operations and labor management.
In the near term, market participants anticipate modest upward pressure on strawberry pricing due to reduced marketable supply. However, several sources remain cautiously optimistic that improving weather patterns in March could support crop recovery and stabilize availability later in the season.
Overall, market sentiment suggests the winter freeze could tighten supplies across multiple Florida-grown specialty crops in the coming weeks. While the ultimate production impact remains dependent on final damage assessments and weather patterns through late winter, industry participants are closely monitoring the situation, with expectations that pricing volatility and supply adjustments may emerge across affected commodities.
Image source: Getty
Written by Holly Bianchi
