Peninsular Florida's southern latitude does not provide complete protection from freezes, which occur every year in all but the extreme southern counties. Freezes can cause severe damage to fruits and vegetables. Freezes were particularly severe in December 1983, in January 1985, when the state experienced the worst freeze since 1899, and in 1989, when records were set for the length of time temperatures were below freezing.
Vegetable growers can do little to protect their crops against freezes. Tender plants such as tomatoes may be severely damaged, whereas other plants, for example greens and cabbages, can more easily survive. A shortage followed by oversupply may result from freezes. Farmers normally stagger their plantings during the fall to create an extended picking season. After a freeze they are forced to replant all their fields immediately, resulting in a production glut and falling prices.
Citrus growers, who regard their trees as long-term investments, take extreme measures to protect them. Planting is avoided in low, freeze-susceptible areas. When freezes do occur, fires are burned, large fans are used to circulate the air, and trunks of young trees are sometimes insulated against the cold.
