The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) says its preliminary estimates show losses to the agriculture sector from the recent freezes could be more than more than $3 billion.
State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said this winter season was one of the most damaging freeze events for Florida agriculture in history.
Simpson also said his office was partnering with the Trump administration to help the state’s farmers, ranchers, and growers.
“I want to thank President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for their unprecedented support for our food producers,” Simpson said
Members of the Florida Congressional delegation will also be assisting the state to administer federal block grant funding to support impacted producers to recover and replant.
The preliminary estimates from FDACS) highlight the losses to Florida’s diverse agricultural sectors, including vegetables and melons, citrus, sugarcane, fruits, horticulture, and aquaculture. The figures will be updated as additional information becomes available. Estimated losses include:
Total estimated losses to Florida agriculture: Over $3.1 billion
Tomatoes: $164,273,849
Strawberries: $306,965,897
Watermelons $65,437,343
Sweet Corn: $255,363,251
Sugarcane: $1,152,122,146
Bell Peppers: $108,380,389
Potatoes: $79,065,000
Cabbage: $21,800,280
Squash: $24,522,275
Blueberries: $78,512,400
Greenhouse and Nursery: $240,000,000
Citrus: $674,660,336
These estimates draw on data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Florida Census of Agriculture, USDA Market News, UF-IFAS Preliminary Freeze Event Assessment, early survey, and early communication between FDACS, industry leaders, and individual producers who are currently engaged in large-scale recovery efforts.
