LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – With much of Central Florida seeing freezing temperatures this week, local farmers are taking extra steps to protect their crops.
At Amber Brooke Farms on Wednesday, workers were on the property to ensure the sprinklers ran throughout the night and into the early morning.
“Knowing that we had the water on throughout the freezing times, we’re confident that it would be okay,” General Manager Caleb Bradley said.
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The constant irrigation created a protective barrier from damaging frost on strawberry and blueberry plants.
‘When the water freezes, the action through fusion creates heat," Bradley said. “That heat is what’s protecting the fruit, and young flowers, and young buds that are turning into fruit.”
Without the protection, entire crops could be lost to the cold.
Bradley said the measures also provided an added flavor benefit.
“We see the cold stress increase sugar levels in the fruit, so we’ll actually get a sweeter berry if it’s not damaged,” Bradley said.
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The irrigation protection is expected to continue over the next several days, including the weekend, when temperatures are expected to drop into the low 20s.
“This will melt naturally, and then we’ll probably start the process over again several nights this week as we continue to deal with it,” Bradley said.
For more details about events at Amber Brooke Farms, click here.