Produce News Today

Temperatures in some areas of Central and South Florida are expected to dip to 25°F this week. Agriculture is Florida’s second largest industry after tourism, and brings in some $100 billion a year.

Seasonal temperatures in Florida have hit freezing before, but it's unusual for cold spells to last this long.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order that gives the state's Division of Emergency Management and other agencies the authority to provide growers with assistance. Throughout central and south Florida, farmers are trying to salvage millions of dollars worth of citrus and vegetable crops.

Donny Brown, East Coast Buyer for Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foods says "It's quickly driving up the prices. There's less quality product available out of Florida, so it's creating demand for other areas, such as Mexico and California.” He said a bushel of green peppers has nearly doubled in price since last week, so has strawberries and of course when the prices soar, the quality drops. It’s a basic supply and demand scenario.” Brown added “chilly temperatures in Texas are also affecting greens. However, our West Coast growers are committed to our advance pre-orders and their crop quality is strong right now so Native Maine customers will be fine through this crisis-at least as availability is concerned, but the commodity based prices we pay for these crops will be very high for some time.”

The cold weather has not yet affected the prices of oranges or orange juice.