Intense blasts of Arctic cold as a result of the brutal winter have caused a huge price tag for the flourishing agriculture industry in Florida, which prospers from the picturesque winters in the Sunshine State that “snowbirds” historically flock to.
Preliminary estimates show that the freezes that the state suffered cost over $3 billion in estimated losses throughout the agricultural sectors of Florida, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“Our preliminary estimate of over $3 billion in agricultural losses makes clear what we already knew: This was one of the most damaging freeze events for Florida agriculture in history. It is also clear that our state’s farmers, ranchers, and growers – who we rely on daily to feed and nourish our communities – need timely and substantial support,” stated Commissioner Wilton Simpson, per the news release from FDACS.
Plants can be killed completely by freezing temperatures, while they can also spoil plants or cause significant damage to them. Annually, the agriculture industry in Florida brings in billions of dollars courtesy of weather conditions that are favorable, the same conditions known to attract millions of tourists every year to the state. When the Sunshine State experiences long stretches of cold and severe winter weather, many of the plants in the state, which aren’t accustomed to freezes, are destroyed. (RELATED: Wildfire That Can Be Seen From Space Erupts To 25,000 Acres In South Florida’s Everglades)
Two winter weather events are detailed in the report, with each freeze causing damage in Florida that was both widespread and unexpected, impacting a lot of the highest-yielding regions of agriculture in the state amid seasonal growth at its peak and periods of planting.
Like a strong portion of the Eastern United States, Florida went through a record-setting cold winter. Not only did it cause problems for “snowbirds” and vacationers looking to escape the cold, but also for the state’s economy.
Other than the instant ruin to crops, the Arctic blasts resulted in major distress for several types of speciality crops, which challenged farmers who hadn’t experienced freezing at those levels in decades.
According to the FDACS’s report, 66 counties in Florida endured temperatures that were freezing.
Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that recent freezes caused more than billion in total estimated losses to Florida agriculture.
— Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (@FDACS) February 20, 2026
Read press release + report: https://t.co/3xeKVoMzhi pic.twitter.com/eLZnqUAi3D
Florida brought in the New Year and began 2026 with Arctic cold.
The powerful winter storm sent chills across Florida to begin the New Year, impacting the vast majority of the state with the Florida Keys being the exception. The stretch lasted multiple days from the end of December to the start of January, triggering travel complications and permanent damage across the Sunshine State. As millions of Floridians were dealing with the hurdles sparked up from the unparalleled winter weather, the harshness of the season was just starting.
When February kicked off, Florida once again experienced a deep freeze as Arctic cold held a tight grip of the state, which broke records for low temperatures along a large part.
The historic cold hit regions in Florida that are vital for producing vegetables, fruits, citrus, melons, sugarcane, horticulture and aquaculture. (RELATED: Millions Across 25 States Become Target For 3 Rounds Of Winter Storms Loaded With Snow, Ice)
While harvest was managed by a few producers, a strong number were tasked with crops that were immature, gusty winds, a limited amount of labor and storage, and protection of crops that was insufficient, which led to losses.
FLORIDA AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY’S ESTIMATED LOSSES OF MORE THAN $3.1 BILLION
- Sugarcane: $1,152,122,146
- Citrus: $674,660,336
- Strawberries: $306,965,897
- Sweet Corn: $255,363,251
- Greenhouse and Nursery: $240,000,000
- Tomatoes: $164,273,849
- Bell Peppers: $108,380,389
- Potatoes: $79,065,000
- Blueberries: $78,512,400
- Watermelons: $65,437,343
- Squash: $24,522,275
- Cabbage: $21,800,280
“I want to thank President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for their unprecedented support for our food producers, especially during times of crisis like this. They know that a strong domestic food supply is critical to our nation’s security, and Florida’s farmers feed America, especially during the winter,” said Simpson, per the FDACS’s news release.
“Working hand in hand with producer groups and our congressional delegation, we stand ready to accept and quickly administer federal block grant funding to support our impacted producers to recover, to replant, and to keep our nation fed.”
