With Hurricane Helene looking to take aim at Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, growers and shippers in the state are getting themselves ready. However, they remain optimistic about the storm's effects on produce crops.
Much like Hurricane Idalia in 2023, heavy rain, high winds, and a dangerous storm surge are expected this week for the Big Bend region of Florida. Christina Morton of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association says they remain hopeful that the most intensive impacts will not be felt by many of its growers.
"That said, Florida growers have been preparing since the earliest indicators of the storm's projected path and are as ready as they can be," says Morton. "Preparations include stopping all field work; putting in extra drainage precautions, draining fields as much as possible before the storm, and checking pumps and drains; tying down equipment; topping off fuel; maintenance on generators; and ensuring the homes of crews and their families are ready."
Steven B. Callaham, CEO of Dundee Citrus Growers Association says indeed, it has been preparing for the storm and that the timing of a severe weather event is never convenient for specialty crop farmers.
"We have been preparing for Hurricane Helene long before she received an official name," he says. "The preparation is not complicated. It's just time-consuming and disruptive to what we need to be doing."
This includes tasks such as securing all equipment, topping off fuel, and moving loose items indoors and under barns. "Florida farmers are resilient and accustomed to dealing with these types of situations. While storm preparation is top of mind, we are also focusing on gearing up the packinghouse today for our first packing run of the season," he says.
Photo: NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center.
Winds and fruit-laden trees
For Seasons Farm Fresh, Inc. Nick Bernal worries about the storm heading right for their citrus growers in Northern Florida. "There is concern that since the trees are so laden with fruit even tropical storm-force winds will knock off or damage a lot of the fruit. Last year we had another storm come by and do significant damage, so this would be two years in a row with a far below-average crop," he says.
Wish Farms isn't anticipating any major issues with its berry fields from Helene. "We will monitor the storm as it approaches as they can be somewhat unpredictable and hope for the best for our neighbors to the north," says Nick Wishnatzki of Wish. "Florida strawberry farmers are just starting to plant, but the fields are prepped with beds, irrigation and plastic. We do anticipate heavy rain and some minor damage plastic ripped up from gusts of wind. This might delay season preparations, but not by a significant amount if the storm continues on its track."
Alan Goldberg of A&B Tropical Produce says for South Florida, where a tropical storm warning has been issued, heavy rains are expected which could bring about issues in both planting and harvesting. "We're looking out for heavy rain. So far the rain has been mild, but you know, these storms are so unpredictable," says Goldberg.
In tropicals and exotics, right now it's avocado season in Florida so significant winds could knock fruit off the trees. Other crops in production include star fruit, mamey, Thai guavas, passionfruit and more. "Everything is susceptible to weather so we're keeping a close eye on it," he says, adding that while July and August were dry months, September so far has seen quite a bit of rain.
For more information:
Christina Morton
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
https://www.ffva.com/
Steven Callaham
Dundee Citrus Growers
http://dun-d.com/
Nick Bernal
Seasons Farm Fresh, Inc.
https://seasonsfarmfresh.com/
Nick Wishnatzki
Wish Farms
www.wishfarms.com