Cold snap raises concerns for mango growers in Southwest Florida

BOKEELIA, Fla. —

A stretch of cold weather moving into Southwest Florida has farmers watching the forecast closely, worried that dropping temperatures could threaten delicate crops.

At Fruitscapes in Bokeelia, a nursery known for its tropical fruit trees, co-owner Stephen Cucura said even a brief frost could have serious consequences — especially for mangoes, which are just entering their growing season.

"Now, we've been hit by hurricanes for the past couple of years, and it's decimated our crops," Cucura said. "And the last thing we need is a cold like this coming up."

Forecasters expect temperatures to dip into the upper 30s and low 40s over the next several nights. While those numbers are manageable, Cucura says it's the duration of the cold — and the potential for a late-week freeze — that has him concerned.

Cucura recalls a severe cold snap about 15 years ago that wiped out mango production for an entire year.

"We had one week of solid cold temperatures where the daytime highs did not exceed 50 degrees," he said. "On the last night of cold, it got down to 26 degrees, and that destroyed our mango crop for the entire year."

Mango season is just beginning in Southwest Florida, and Cucura says sustained cold temperatures could make or break this year's harvest. Forecasts currently show cooler conditions lingering for about a week.

"Yes, time is a factor," Cucura said. "Most of the forecasts are showing low 40s, upper 30s for us, which is good. But it's always the last night — and that's what I'm worried about."

For homeowners concerned about protecting their own fruit trees or gardens, Cucura recommends taking precautions ahead of freezing temperatures. He says covering plants with frost blankets and properly watering the ground can help.

"The best course of action is maybe saturate the ground around the tree the day before you're expected to have a freeze," he said. "Don't go out there and water the tree. That could cause a lot more damage. Water the ground around it."

Mangoes have been grown in Southwest Florida for nearly 100 years, making them a staple of the region's agricultural identity. As the cold lingers, farmers say the next few nights will be critical, with just a few degrees potentially determining whether crops survive or suffer major losses.

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