Historic freeze devastates Everglades crops, sparks relief push

This time of year, farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) are normally supplying fresh sweet corn, green beans, lettuce, rice and sugar to American grocery stores.

But the beginning of February brought a rare arctic blast that paralyzed and destroyed crops as far south as Homestead. As farmers assess the damage and begin the long road to recovery, lawmakers seek assistance for one of the state’s most vital industries.

Jonathan Allen, a farm manager at RC Hatton Farms, told WPBF 25 News that about 40% of his crops were damaged, including roughly 120 acres of sweet corn that is now a total loss. In normal years, more than 180 million Americans purchase food crops grown in the EAA, according to the Florida Farm Bureau

“The freeze is the worst that I can remember, probably worse than 1989,” Allen said. “Across the board it’s devastation, complete devastation.”

Farmers across the state spend months and even years preparing for harvests that support their livelihood and feed families. While the Sunshine State is used to hurricanes, freezes are not typical.

“We try everything possible to save what we can,” said Keith Wedgworth, president of the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, to The Palm Beach Post.  “You are really just trying to gain a few degrees, and sometimes you have to really think outside the box.”

Agricultural professionals know the tips and tricks for protecting their crops from the wrath of Mother Nature, but when freezing temperatures persist for too long, there is only so much preparation possible.

Stewart Stein, a farmer from Belle Glade, Florida, covered his young sugarcane plants with dirt to protect them from the freeze. While he hopes it worked, he told The Palm Beach Post that time will tell the extent of the damage to the crop. However, he estimates he has lost about half a million dollars on his sweet corn field next to Lake Okeechobee.

Florida’s southern climate is crucial to food security in the Winter months when it’s too cold for harvests in other parts of the country. Widespread crop loss could ripple through local economies, grocery supply chains and food prices nationwide. The devastation has prompted lawmakers to fight for recovery efforts for the state’s agriculture industry.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has asked the federal government for approval to use Florida’s disaster block grant program to immediately fund relief for agricultural producers impacted by the ice storm.

Bay News 9 stated that information from the Florida Department of Agriculture shows that the freeze may have caused over $1 billion in losses for the state’s farmers.

Following Simpson’s request, every member of Florida’s congressional delegation sent a bipartisan letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asking for a federal disaster declaration following the extreme cold.

“Agriculture is the second-largest economic sector in Florida’s economy, and this weather disaster struck during the production seasons for many of our state’s 300 commodities,” the letter stated.

The USDA has reported that central Florida will see a shortage of strawberry supply, and other commodities will face production losses that could last months and, in some cases, even years.

In the meantime, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-33 to facilitate emergency harvesting to protect further agricultural losses throughout the state.

“We have to try to feed the country, so we need all the help we can get to continue to do that,” said Allen, a chilling reminder that Florida’s recovery dictates food security nationwide.