Photo Galleries »

Growers inventory damage after another freeze

Strawberries at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic farm get a healthy dose of water on Wednesday morning after frost ruined most of the ripening berries. Oakes said the strawberry plants would survive but the berries that were ripest for the picking were a complete loss. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.

Photo by AARON HALE

Strawberries at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic farm get a healthy dose of water on Wednesday morning after frost ruined most of the ripening berries. Oakes said the strawberry plants would survive but the berries that were ripest for the picking were a complete loss. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.

Buy this photo

Photo Rating:
Gallery Rating:

  • Organic produce grower Frank Oakes examines his crops after Wednesday morning's freeze at his farm in Golden Gate Estates. Wednesday was the second straight morning of subfreezing temperatures for farmers in inland regions of Southwest Florida. Damage to crops was not catastrophic, said Gene McAvoy, multi-county vegetable agent with the University of Florida/IFAM Extension in Hendry Country. However, the early freeze could spell major trouble if cold weather continues through January and February as it did last winter. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Frost covers the leaves of young plants at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic produce farm on Wednesday morning. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Organic produce grower Frank Oakes examines his strawberry plants after Wednesday morning's freeze at his farm in Golden Gate Estates. Wednesday was the second straight morning of subfreezing temperatures for farmers in inland regions of Southwest Florida. The frost ruined a batch of ripening berries. Damage to crops was not catastrophic, said Gene McAvoy, multi-county vegetable agent with the University of Florida/IFAM Extension in Hendry Country. However, the early freeze could spell major trouble if cold weather continues through January and February as it did last winter. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Strawberries at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic farm get a healthy dose of water on Wednesday morning after frost ruined most of the ripening berries. Oakes said the strawberry plants would survive but the berries that were ripest for the picking were a complete loss. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Alex Trabino picks greens on Wednesday morning after cold weather frosted some crops at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic produce farm. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Rene Garza picks radishes on Wednesday after cold weather frosted some crops at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic produce farm. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Organic produce grower Frank Oakes examines his crops after Wednesday morning's freeze at his farm in Golden Gate Estates. Wednesday was the second straight morning of subfreezing temperatures for farmers in inland regions of Southwest Florida. Damage to crops was not catastrophic, said Gene McAvoy, multi-county vegetable agent with the University of Florida/IFAM Extension in Hendry Country. However, the early freeze could spell major trouble if cold weather continues through January and February as it did last winter. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.
  • Strawberries at Frank Oakes' Golden Gate Estates organic farm get a healthy dose of water on Wednesday morning after frost ruined most of the ripening berries. Oakes said the strawberry plants would survive but the berries that were ripest for the picking were a complete loss. Photographed Dec. 8, 2010. Aaron Hale/Staff.

It could have been worse, but unseasonably cold weather is causing headaches for Southwest Florida produce growers. Tomato plants, strawberries, corn and green beans were among those damaged by frost and freezing temperatures.

Related Stories for Growers inventory damage after another freeze

Comments on this photo » 0

Be the first to post a comment!

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Comments can be shared on Facebook and Yahoo!. Add both options by connecting your profiles.

Features