Not only did an arctic blast freeze south Georgia and Florida
vegetable crops, but
grocery shoppers may get a chill when they see produce prices
climb.

“We’re likely to see a price spike at the grocery store from now
until the next crop
comes in sometime in late March or mid-April,” said Bill
Mizelle, an economist with
the University of Georgia Extension Service.

South Florida vegetable-growing area temperatures plunged to 20
degrees the weekend
of Jan. 18. Mizelle said his reports estimate total losses in
some areas.

South Florida buying-point prices have nearly doubled on beans
and tomatoes. Squash
and pepper prices rose by 25 percent to 50 percent.

“Retail prices probably won’t reflect that entire price jump
since other markets provide
some of those same vegetables,” he said. But prices will go up.
They may even double
current prices.

Some Florida farmers with damaged crops may replant their
fields, hoping to recover
some of their losses.

“Anything they choose to replant may overlap with Georgia crops
at the market later
this year,” Mizelle said.

A produce glut at the market causes prices to the farmer to
drop. As wholesalers pay
less for produce, retail prices drop.

“Grocery prices from April into June will probably be lower than
normal,” Mizelle
said.

Georgia temperatures dipped into the 20s, too. Fortunately,
crops here weren’t hurt as
much as in Florida.

Extension horticulturist Terry Kelley said most of Georgia’s
winter crops came through
the freeze with very little damage.

The freeze may have slightly damaged the quills (the spiky
leaves) of Georgia’s sweet
onion crop. But Kelley said he didn’t expect the damage to be
serious.

“We got a little damage in our cabbage and collards,” he
said. “But they should recover
before they’re marketed. Mustard and turnip greens may have to
be cut, refertilized
and allowed to regrow.”

If Florida farmers replant, the crop Georgia farmers nurture
until harvest could be
worth less. Kelley said anything Florida farmers don’t replant
would certainly be better
for Georgia farmers’ prices.

“With the drop in supply, prices for farmers and at the retail
level will rise at first,” he
said. “But if there is a lot of replanting in Florida, both
states’ growers may suffer
later.”

“If Florida farmers with damaged crops replant,” Mizelle
said, “consumers will pay for
the freeze now, but farmers in Georgia and Florida will pay for
it later.”