Florida's agriculture industry, including its iconic orange groves and berry farms, is struggling to recover from two powerful hurricanes, Helene and Milton, that struck in late 2024. Both Category 4 storms caused severe damage to crops, with strong winds uprooting trees, defoliating citrus groves, and flooding low-lying farms. Farmers face challenges like fallen fruit, torn plastic mulch in berry fields, and structural damage to barns and equipment.
The storms came on the heels of others, compounding losses and making recovery difficult. For instance, citrus groves saw major destruction, with fruit dropping before harvest and trees snapped at their roots. Strawberry and blueberry farmers also suffered significant losses, with plastic mulch destroyed and crops endangered. The dairy industry, too, was impacted, with cows producing less milk due to stress.
Florida's agriculture industry, which generated $182.6 billion in 2022, plays a crucial role in U.S. food production, but is regularly threatened by hurricanes. Programs like crop insurance and USDA recovery loans offer support, but the long-term impact—especially for citrus farmers—can last for decades. This year's hurricanes follow several tough years for Florida farmers, who have also been hit by citrus greening disease, freezes, market volatility, and inflation. Yet, despite the hardships, farmers continue to persevere.
Source: digital.abcaudio.com