After some less-than-ideal weather and health concerns, Florida produce growers expect improved volume and quality this growing season. While growing conditions are fluid, early predictions say good yields are in store.
West Coast Tomato LLC, based in Palmetto, Florida, says planting is already finished in the southwest Florida area. Florida has been experiencing 60-degree nights and 80-degree days, optimal temperatures for tomatoes. But the good fortune goes beyond tomatoes, as dragon fruit, passion fruit, mangoes, red guava and Thai guava quality and yields look good. After two hurricanes in 2022 and a freeze around Christmas, produce growers have certainly endured Mother Nature’s unpredictability.
Perhaps just as uncontrollable are market conditions. While quality and yields may have improved, market demand could remain questionable as consumers battle inflated prices at grocery stores across the country.
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