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Freeze Was Berry Bad News

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By RUSSELL RAY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

Florida strawberry growers are still reeling from last month's freeze.

Since the Jan. 3 freeze, strawberry production has dropped more than 30 percent compared with last year, costing growers and farmworkers more than $15 million, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association said Friday. Initially, industry officials projected a 10 percent to 15 percent loss.

The drop in production has led to slightly higher retail prices, said Shawn Crocker, the association's executive director.

"They have bumped up a little bit at the grocery store," Crocker said.

The losses came at the worst possible time for growers because strawberry prices peak in January and early February, Crocker said.

"We missed our opportunity to recoup our costs because of the low volumes during and after the freeze," he said. "It takes about $20,000 an acre to put a crop of berries in the ground. The average strawberry farm is about 23 acres."

Fewer berries also mean lower paychecks for the migrant workers who pick the crop.

"Instead of working a full eight- to 10-hour day, they're working a four-hour day," Crocker said.

During the freeze, high winds prevented some growers from applying a layer of ice around their berries, causing losses to go from bad to worse. The ice coating prevents the berry inside from freezing.

Luckily, the freeze didn't destroy any plants. As a result, growers are expecting a big strawberry crop after Valentine's Day.

"Knowing what we know about berries, it looks like we're going to have a heck of a crop right after Valentine's Day," Crocker said.

Unfortunately for growers, that's when strawberry prices begin to plunge.

Right now, the wholesale price of a 10-pound flat of strawberries is about $18 because Florida is the only state producing strawberries at this time of year. Shortly after Valentine's Day, the price will drop to $8 per flat, Crocker said.

Florida strawberry growers planted a record 8,320 acres this season and were expecting sales of $300 million. The overall impact of the freeze is still unknown, but Crocker doesn't expect sales to reach $300 million this season.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870 or rray@tampatrib.com.

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