Florida’s agriculture industry has incurred more than $3 billion in damages due to consecutive blasts of Arctic cold that struck the state during late December 2025 and early January 2026, according to preliminary estimates from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Commissioner Wilton Simpson called the freezes “one of the most damaging events for Florida agriculture in history,” emphasizing the urgent need for support for farmers, ranchers, and growers.

The extreme weather impacted 66 counties, damaging crops at critical stages of growth. Florida’s agriculture, which benefits from the state’s typically mild winters, saw major losses in sugarcane, citrus, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, watermelons, squash, and cabbage. Total estimated losses include $1.15 billion in sugarcane, $675 million in citrus, and over $300 million in strawberries, contributing to a statewide loss exceeding $3.1 billion.

The freezes coincided with peak seasonal planting and harvest periods, compounding damage. Immature crops, high winds, limited labor, and insufficient protection left growers struggling to salvage yields. The record-setting cold also affected specialty crops that had not faced similar conditions in decades.

The harsh winter disrupted not only agriculture but also travel and tourism, as residents and “snowbirds” dealt with unprecedented low temperatures across the state, with the Florida Keys largely spared. Vital agricultural regions producing vegetables, fruits, melons, sugarcane, horticulture, and aquaculture were particularly affected.

Commissioner Simpson acknowledged the federal government’s support, thanking President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for backing Florida farmers. He emphasized the importance of a strong domestic food supply for national security and stated that federal block grant funding will be administered quickly to help growers recover, replant, and maintain the nation’s food supply.

The 2025–2026 Arctic blasts underscore Florida’s vulnerability to extreme weather and highlight the critical role of timely government assistance in sustaining the state’s billion-dollar agriculture sector.