The forecasted temperature drop might be an inconvenience for some, but it’s a recipe for disaster for an entire industry right here in Florida. A slight drop below 28°F for just a few hours can cause significant damage to citrus, leading growers to consider emergency harvesting.

In the Tampa Bay area, including Dade City, citrus farmers are working urgently to protect their crops from the impending cold snap.

The timing is critical in Dade City, where the cold could hit right before the Kumquat Festival scheduled for January 25.

“We’re really concerned,” citrus farmer Greg Gude expressed, noting that although kumquats can handle mild freezes, extended exposure to severe cold can harm both the fruit and the young trees.

To safeguard the festival’s supply, farmers are planning to harvest and chill sufficient kumquats.

Enthusiasts like Mark Novak are preemptively buying, and individuals like Annette Sell, who use kumquats in baking, stress the fruit’s significance for various products. “We use it for a lot of product. The bakers use it for, and we sell lots of pies and cookies and stuff out of the product,” Sell remarked.

Concerns extend beyond the immediate festival, as growers remember the devastating freezes of the 1980s and worry about potential long-term tree damage.

Despite the challenges, Gude remains somewhat hopeful: “With this timeframe, I can at least make some preparations so that we have kumquats for the festival.”

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(Image credit: WTSP)