As we rang in the new year, many of us were thankful that Jack Frost was no longer nipping at our nose … or crops, for that matter.

Florida experienced its coldest Christmas in 33 years, and while some people may have hoped for a white Christmas (I’m not naming names, but I was not one of them),it made for a nerve-wracking holiday weekend for those with fragile crops out in their fields. 

Thankfully, reports from across the state showed that Florida crops seemed to escape damage from the unusual early cold snap. Nonetheless, it was a powerful reminder for the state’s blueberry growers that the brunt of winter is still to come, and it comes at a crucial time for our crop.

January is typically the coldest month of the year for Florida, and that means the potential for many long nights ahead. 

On page 10, you can find a detailed checklist for freeze protection, and there is even more information available in this previous Blueberry News article: https://bit.ly/3EW5eEE.

Here’s to a prosperous new year for the Florida blueberry industry!