Record-low temperatures took a rising toll on Florida crops Wednesday, as a third night of subfreezing weather blanketed the state.
But the citrus industry appears to have dodged the frozen bullet that sent overnight lows from 21 degrees in Jacksonville to 34 degrees in Miami.
Around Tampa Bay, strawberry farmers found signs of crop damage and reported that production is down about 60 percent.
In Belle Glade, where the mercury dipped as low as 25 degrees, much of the more mature sweet corn was lost, along with green beans. Leafy greens were icy, and yields will be affected.
The Packer, an ag industry publication, reported that the Immokalee-area tomato harvest could be down by as much as 80 percent.
In Hendry County, Gene McAvoy of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Services said, We have had some pretty significant damage. Most of the tomatoes within 10 days of harvest are pretty much frozen.
Temperatures across west-central Florida remained at or below freezing through Wednesday morning, and most local growers used spray water irrigation to provide a thin coat of ice to the local strawberry plants to seal out the harsher temperatures.
"Reports from local farmers indicated they were optimistic their crops escaped any real damage, but said it would take more time to assess all their crops," according to the Florida Agricultural Emergency Report.
Citrus growers appeared to fare better, and futures markets responded accordingly Wednesday morning.
Bloomberg News reported that orange-juice futures dropped to the lowest price in almost two weeks on signs that damage to citrus groves in Florida, the worlds second-biggest grower, was less severe than expected.
The initial assessment shows that there has been minimal damage, Jodi Timmons, a vice president at Global Commodity Futures LLC in Fort Lauderdale, told Bloomberg.
Farther north, however, Steve Crump of Vo-Lasalle Farms in Volusia County noted, "The insides of the fruit resemble a Slurpee so they wont be fresh market. Instead they will be used for juice."
Indian River citrus growers expected some damage to thin-skinned citrus varieties.
No dollar figures were available.
As temperatures dropped on land, Florida's aquaculture business was hit harder on Wednesday.
"Dead fish are already floating to the top. This is very unusual because typically fish dont float until after the first day of warming temps," said Marty Tanner, president of Tropical Fish Association.
--
Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
