Cold Shock! Freeze Damage Estimates Massive for Florida Growers

The widespread winter storm and freeze events in late January and early February 2026 won’t soon be forgotten by Florida farmers. Far from it in fact. Initial freeze damage estimates are in — and they are chilling. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) preliminary estimates of losses to Florida agriculture from the recent freezes add up to more than $3 billion!

And adding insult to injury, another cold snap is sweeping the Sunshine State as I write this.

According to FDACS, these preliminary estimates highlight the losses to Florida’s diverse specialty crop sector. The figures will be updated as additional information becomes available.

More than $3.1 billion in estimated losses include:

• Tomatoes: $164,273,849
• Strawberries: $306,965,897
• Watermelons: $65,437,343
• Sweet Corn: $255,363,251
• Sugarcane: $1,152,122,146
• Bell Peppers: $108,380,389
• Potatoes: $79,065,000
• Cabbage: $21,800,280
• Squash: $24,522,275
• Blueberries: $78,512,400
• Citrus: $674,660,336
• Greenhouse and Nursery: $240,000,000

These estimates were compiled using data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Florida Census of Agriculture, USDA Market News, UF/IFAS Preliminary Freeze Event Assessment, early survey and early communication between FDACS, industry leaders, and individual producers who are currently engaged in large-scale recovery efforts.

“Our preliminary estimate of over $3 billion in agricultural losses makes clear what we already knew: This was one of the most damaging freeze events for Florida agriculture in history,” Simpson says. “It is also clear that our state’s farmers, ranchers, and growers – who we rely on daily to feed and nourish our communities – need timely and substantial support.”

Click here to review the comprehensive report from FDACS on preliminary estimates of damage from the recent winter storms.