South Florida Farmers Brace for Crop Losses as Freezing Temperatures Hit

Growers warn that the cold snap could soon drive up produce prices in the market

Feb. 2, 2026 at 9:07pm

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South Florida farmers are assessing damage after freezing temperatures swept across the region early Monday morning, with growers warning that the cold could soon lead to higher prices for fruits and vegetables. Farmers are preparing for more potential losses as another cold night is forecasted, and they say consumers should expect changes in market prices due to the frost damage.

Why it matters

Freezing temperatures in South Florida, a major agricultural region, can have significant economic impacts as crop losses drive up produce prices for consumers. This comes at a time when inflation and supply chain issues have already put pressure on food prices.

The details

At Kern Carpenter Nursery, owner Kern Carpenter said nearly 20% of his tomato crop was damaged by the overnight freeze. Green bean farmer Sam Accursio shared a video showing frost covering his plants just before sunrise, and hundreds of his plants were affected. With another cold night in the forecast, farmers are preparing for more potential losses. Robert Moehling Jr., owner of the popular South Florida fruit market Robert Is Here, said consumers should expect prices to increase due to the frost damage.

  • The freezing temperatures swept across South Florida early Monday morning.
  • Another cold night is forecasted for the region.

The players

Kern Carpenter

Owner of Kern Carpenter Nursery, who said nearly 20% of his tomato crop was damaged by the overnight freeze.

Sam Accursio

A green bean farmer in South Florida who shared a video showing frost covering his plants just before sunrise, with hundreds of his plants affected.

Robert Moehling Jr.

Owner of the popular South Florida fruit market Robert Is Here, who said consumers should expect prices to increase due to the frost damage.

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What they’re saying

“The wind died, and it got cold really fast. We did the best we could and still got burned.”

— Kern Carpenter, Owner, Kern Carpenter Nursery

“These plants were just like an ice cube. You could go up to them, and the leaves were crunchy.”

— Sam Accursio, Green bean farmer (CBS News Miami)

“100% you are going to feel it in the market. With the frost, it can cause damage, and having continuous days of frost makes it worse.”

— Robert Moehling Jr., Owner, Robert Is Here

What’s next

Farmers say they will need 48 to 72 hours to fully assess the extent of the damage and are still bracing for the impact of another cold night.

The takeaway

The freezing temperatures in South Florida, a major agricultural region, highlight the vulnerability of the food supply chain to extreme weather events. Consumers should expect higher produce prices in the coming weeks as farmers work to recover from the crop losses.