A rare, severe freeze swept central and southern Florida, sending temperatures into the 20s and 30s and forcing growers to irrigate orchards overnight to protect fruit. AccuWeather estimates about 8%–10% of unharvested oranges could be lost, and forecasters warn of another cold blast this weekend. Officials are seeking federal disaster declarations to unlock aid for affected growers.
Rare Freeze Grips Florida Citrus — Growers Race Overnight To Save Oranges
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A sudden, severe freeze swept central and southern Florida over the weekend, pushing fruit and berry growers into overnight operations to protect orchards from frost damage, according to AccuWeather.
What Happened
Thermometers plunged into the 20s and 30s across large parts of the region — temperatures at which fruit and other crops can suffer damage within hours. AccuWeather estimates roughly 8%–10% of unharvested oranges could be ruined by this event, and forecasters warn another cold spell could arrive this coming weekend.
How Growers Responded
Growers irrigated fields through the night. While it may seem counterintuitive, running water over trees and vines creates ice that releases latent heat as it freezes, keeping the fruit itself slightly warmer than the surrounding air and reducing tissue damage.
"It's an all-hands-on-deck deal. Family gets recruited. Everybody gets recruited to go out and help in preparation," said Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, noting growers have not faced such intense cold since 2010.
Plant City orange grower Trevor Murphy reported his orchards sat in sub-28°F air for more than six hours on consecutive nights. He said he is already seeing damage and expects many young trees planted this winter may not survive.
Broader Impact
Florida's citrus industry has been shrinking for decades and now produces about one-fifth of its peak output; roughly 1,500 citrus operations remain in business. The sector has been weakened by cold snaps, disease, drought, foreign competition and lingering recovery from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Severe freezes like this one threaten both growers' livelihoods and local food-system resilience, and can ripple outward by raising consumer prices and straining regional economies.
Official Response And What You Can Do
State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has urged federal officials to declare a disaster in the hardest-hit counties, a move that could unlock federal aid for affected growers. Consumers who want to help can prioritize locally grown produce, shop at farmers' markets, or join community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs to keep money in regional food systems and support family farms.
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