Wind the biggest enemy to Florida tomatoes as Florida watches Fay
Wind the biggest enemy to Florida tomatoes as Florida watches Fay
"Growers in Palmetto, Ruskin and some in the Immokalee areas are underway" with the initial tomato planting process, said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange in Maitland, FL. "They could be in for some major losses if Fay delivers strong winds."
Mr. Brown spoke to The Produce News at about 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, mere hours before Tropical Storm Fay was scheduled to make landfall in the Florida Keys. He noted that typically, the fall tomato crop starts to go in the fields in August, and plantings continue every week throughout the season.
"Plastic is laid in the fields well in advance, depending on how stable the weather is," he continued. "Currently there is more plastic exposed than there are plants in the ground, and that makes for major concern. Beneath the plastic is high-priced fertilizer, and under that are expensive fumigants. These are all fuel-based materials, and based on the cost of fuel today, they represent a major capital that is exposed to risk."
Mr. Brown said that the cost of the tomato plants that might be in the ground already is minimal in comparison to the cost of the planting materials. Tomato fields are designed to handle fairly intense rainfall amounts, but they cannot withstand strong winds.
"Wind is tomato growers' biggest enemy," he said. "If they get a bad wind hit, the result of replacing the materials will be like paying for their crops twice."
Also at 2 p.m. Monday, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service issued an intermediate advisory stating that hurricane warnings were in effect for the southwestern coast of Florida.
The center of Fay was approaching Key West with tropical storm conditions. Hurricane conditions were expected in the following 24 hours.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect along the Florida east coast, from Cocoa Beach southward, and along Florida west coast north of Anna Maria Springs, and including Lake Okeechobee. Tropical storm watches had been issued for north of Cocoa Beach to Fernandina Beach.
The storm was moving toward the north-northwest at nearly 14 miles per hour. A turn toward the north with a slower forward speed was expected late Monday. Maximum sustained winds at 2 p.m. were reported at near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening was forecast during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Fay was expected to produce rainfall accumulations of four to eight inches, but 10 inches was said to be possible for the Florida Keys and south Florida.
Other fruit and vegetable producers were also paying heed on Monday afternoon.
Donna Duda, communications specialist of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL, said, "Our south Florida farms are taking general precautions in preparation for Tropical Storm Fay, like tying down equipment and other storm preparations. And we will be monitoring and managing water level on the farms as needed."
"Right now everyone is still in a waiting mode to see where [Hurricane Fay] ends up heading," said Lisa Lochridge, director of public affairs for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, FL. "There's not much in the ground, but many tomato fields have been prepared."
A full plate of challenges is something that Florida tomato growers know a lot about in recent times. The Saintpaul Salmonella outbreak that was initially attributed to tomatoes by the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention caused millions of dollars in losses to many in the tomato industry, including growers.
"Just about the time you think there's not much more that can be thrown at you, Fay comes along," said Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown spoke to The Produce News at about 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, mere hours before Tropical Storm Fay was scheduled to make landfall in the Florida Keys. He noted that typically, the fall tomato crop starts to go in the fields in August, and plantings continue every week throughout the season.
"Plastic is laid in the fields well in advance, depending on how stable the weather is," he continued. "Currently there is more plastic exposed than there are plants in the ground, and that makes for major concern. Beneath the plastic is high-priced fertilizer, and under that are expensive fumigants. These are all fuel-based materials, and based on the cost of fuel today, they represent a major capital that is exposed to risk."
Mr. Brown said that the cost of the tomato plants that might be in the ground already is minimal in comparison to the cost of the planting materials. Tomato fields are designed to handle fairly intense rainfall amounts, but they cannot withstand strong winds.
"Wind is tomato growers' biggest enemy," he said. "If they get a bad wind hit, the result of replacing the materials will be like paying for their crops twice."
Also at 2 p.m. Monday, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service issued an intermediate advisory stating that hurricane warnings were in effect for the southwestern coast of Florida.
The center of Fay was approaching Key West with tropical storm conditions. Hurricane conditions were expected in the following 24 hours.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect along the Florida east coast, from Cocoa Beach southward, and along Florida west coast north of Anna Maria Springs, and including Lake Okeechobee. Tropical storm watches had been issued for north of Cocoa Beach to Fernandina Beach.
The storm was moving toward the north-northwest at nearly 14 miles per hour. A turn toward the north with a slower forward speed was expected late Monday. Maximum sustained winds at 2 p.m. were reported at near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening was forecast during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Fay was expected to produce rainfall accumulations of four to eight inches, but 10 inches was said to be possible for the Florida Keys and south Florida.
Other fruit and vegetable producers were also paying heed on Monday afternoon.
Donna Duda, communications specialist of corporate communications for A. Duda & Sons Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL, said, "Our south Florida farms are taking general precautions in preparation for Tropical Storm Fay, like tying down equipment and other storm preparations. And we will be monitoring and managing water level on the farms as needed."
"Right now everyone is still in a waiting mode to see where [Hurricane Fay] ends up heading," said Lisa Lochridge, director of public affairs for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, FL. "There's not much in the ground, but many tomato fields have been prepared."
A full plate of challenges is something that Florida tomato growers know a lot about in recent times. The Saintpaul Salmonella outbreak that was initially attributed to tomatoes by the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention caused millions of dollars in losses to many in the tomato industry, including growers.
"Just about the time you think there's not much more that can be thrown at you, Fay comes along," said Mr. Brown.
