Farmers work overnight to protect crops as cold snap grips Gulf Coast

LABELLE, Fla. —

Farmers across Southwest Florida worked through the night as another round of freezing temperatures threatened crops already stressed by recent weather extremes.

At Blueberry Bunch Farm in LaBelle, blueberry bushes were coated in ice early Monday morning — a sight that may seem alarming, but one that farm managers say is intentional.

“The ice actually protects the fruit,” said Kristian Velasco, manager at Blueberry Bunch Farm.

The ongoing cold snap along the Gulf Coast has forced farmers to take extra precautions to prevent crop damage. At the 32-acre blueberry farm, workers ran irrigation systems for nearly 11 hours overnight, allowing water to freeze around the berries and create a protective shell.

Velasco explained that the ice layer helps keep the fruit at a steady temperature during freezing conditions.

“That keeps the blueberries at about 32 degrees and protects them,” Velasco said. “Normally, we have enough water for two nights, but it’s more concerning when we see another freeze in the forecast.”

The farm is still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which caused significant damage and forced replanting across large portions of the property. Velasco said many of the plants are new varieties introduced after the storm.

“This year we had to replant a lot after Hurricane Ian,” he said. “We have a lot of new plants, new varieties, and they’re producing earlier. We’re almost a month and a half ahead of last season.”

Despite the progress, the cold weather remains a concern, especially for the younger plants.

Farm workers must wait until temperatures rise above freezing before shutting off the irrigation systems, allowing the ice to slowly melt without damaging the fruit.

Velasco said it will take several days to determine whether the blueberries made it through the cold snap without lasting damage.

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