Farmers face the challenge of waiting to discover the aftermath of a hurricane, a situation encapsulated by Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager at Wish Farms, a berry grower and shipper based in Plant City, Florida. In the wake of Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, companies like Wish Farms had to navigate the aftermath, securing equipment and hoping for minimal damage.
Hurricane Milton, with winds exceeding 100 miles per hour and heavy rainfall, caused significant destruction across Florida, including damage to agricultural infrastructure in Manatee County. This event marked a rare occurrence where the strawberry industry faced direct impacts from a hurricane, leading to flooded fields and considerable losses.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimated the agriculture industry's losses between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, highlighting the storm's broad impact on the state's agriculture, especially for strawberry growers. Florida, a major strawberry producer, has over 14,200 acres dedicated to strawberry cultivation, with Wish Farms managing a significant portion of this production.
Post-Hurricane Milton, the assessment and repair efforts were crucial, especially for the organic strawberry fields, which are more susceptible to damage and diseases such as pestalotia. The challenge of restoring the fields was compounded by the need for timely planting to ensure a profitable season. Despite the difficulties, strategies such as employing predator mites for pest control in organic and conventional fields were implemented to aid recovery.
The labor-intensive process of salvaging the fields underscores the resilience of farmers and the agricultural community's efforts to rebuild. With a healthy plant crop and a significant portion of farmland saved, there is optimism for the upcoming strawberry season, despite the hurricane's challenges.
Source: New Hope