South Florida Farmers Devastated by Freeze, More Cold Expected

Freeze wiped out acres of sweet corn in Palm City, with 40% of crops damaged across RC Hatton Farms

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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A recent freeze in South Florida and the Treasure Coast has caused major crop losses for local farmers, with RC Hatton Farms reporting around 40% of their crops damaged, including 120 acres of sweet corn that is now a total loss. The farm manager says this freeze is the worst he can remember, and with more cold weather expected on Friday, they'll be working to protect what remains of their crops.

Why it matters

South Florida is a major agricultural region, producing a significant portion of the country's winter produce. The severe freeze has devastated local farms, threatening the region's ability to continue feeding the nation and raising concerns about potential food shortages and price increases.

The details

Jonathan Allen, farm manager at RC Hatton Farms, said the company tried various measures to protect their fields, including building a berm and flooding parts of the area, but the strong winds made it impossible to save the sweet corn crop. The Palm City location, known for growing sweet corn, was hit particularly hard, with Allen saying they won't harvest a single ear from the 120 acres that were damaged.

  • Last weekend's freeze caused the major crop losses.
  • Another round of cold weather is expected to move into the region on Friday morning.

The players

RC Hatton Farms

A nearly 90-year-old farming operation based in Pahokee, Florida, growing crops like sweet corn, green beans, and sugar cane. The company's Palm City location, known for its sweet corn, was hit particularly hard by the recent freeze.

Jonathan Allen

The farm manager at RC Hatton Farms, who says this recent freeze is the worst he can remember, worse even than the freeze of 1989.

Wilton Simpson

The Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, who is seeking federal disaster assistance for farmers impacted by the severe 2026 winter freeze.

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What they’re saying

“This freeze is the worse that I can remember probably worse than 1989. Across the board, it's devastation, complete devastation.”

— Jonathan Allen, Farm Manager, RC Hatton Farms (wpbf.com)

“We have to try to feed the country, so we need all the help we can get to continue to do that.”

— Jonathan Allen, Farm Manager, RC Hatton Farms (wpbf.com)

What’s next

With colder temperatures forecast again on Friday, the farmers at RC Hatton Farms will be closely monitoring conditions in the Glades area and using overhead irrigation to try and keep the ground warm and protect their remaining crops.

The takeaway

This devastating freeze highlights the vulnerability of Florida's agricultural industry to extreme weather events, and the importance of securing federal disaster assistance to help farmers recover and continue providing the nation with vital winter produce.