“My budget is toast”: Devastating freeze leaves Florida blueberry farm reeling

For Florida’s blueberry growers, the impact of the unexpected freeze that hit the state on January 31 and February 1 has proven more severe than initially anticipated. That’s certainly the case for Austin Sigety, owner of Tampa’s Frogmore Fresh , who now faces a harvest even smaller than his very worst predictions . Sigety was one of the many blueberry growers in Central and North Florida who were hit by the coldest weather the state has seen in decades, with temperatures falling to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The damage to his crop is clear and dramatic: At week 16, he’s harvesting only 20 percent of what he picked at the same time last year. Florida blueberry losses largely exceed forecasts Upon learning what loomed ahead, growers, including Sigety, acted quickly to prepare accordingly. However, the weather proved colder and more relentless than expected, and even with freeze protection in place—the overhead water sprayers over every row of berries—losses were massive. Frogmore ...