Publication Date November 24, 2015 | The Packer

Record heat accelerates Florida tomato crops

United States
Florida growers are battling record high temperatures as extreme heat matures the state’s tomatoes. Photo: The Packer
Florida growers are battling record high temperatures as extreme heat matures the state’s tomatoes. Photo: The Packer
Florida growers are battling record high temperatures as extreme heat matures the state’s tomatoes. Growers began harvesting in mid- to late October and early November and extreme heat accelerated crop maturities. Every day in early- to mid-November, central Florida temperatures exceeded average highs and broke records until the latter part of the month, according to weather reports. Central Florida’s production could decline earlier than normal in Decembe...The heat pushed production and brought the bulk of the Palmetto-Ruskin crop came in November with six weeks of volume harvested in three weeks.