Infinite Unknown

See also: Deep freeze kills millions of fish in Florida

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — At least 70 percent of southwest Florida’s winter crop of vegetables, including tomatoes and peppers, were destroyed by freezing weather, said Gene McAvoy, the director of the Hendry County extension office for the University of Florida.

Losses will be more than $100 million, McAvoy said today in a telephone interview. Tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers are the major crops in the estimate, he said. In the U.S. winter, Florida provides about 70 percent of the tomatoes sold in the nation, McAvoy said from LaBelle, Florida.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elizabeth Campbell in New York at ecampbell14@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 19, 2010 12:26 EST
By Elizabeth Campbell

Source: Bloomberg

Tags: agriculture, crops, Environment, Farmers, Florida, U.S., Weather