US (FL): Storms harm peppers, squash, but volume expected to increase

After January storms caused yield losses approaching 50%, Florida grower-shippers of bell peppers expect spring to bring increased quantities and quality.

The winter storms burned and sun-scalded many peppers and the cooler weather slowed squash production, said Tom Nicholson, salesman for Boca Raton-based Ben Litowich & Son Inc.

“It will be into March before we see any volume on pepper and on squash, we should be into bigger production as long as the weather cooperates,” he said in late February.

In general, pepper plantings planned for harvesting late March through early May experienced better weather and Brian Rayfield, vice president of business development and marketing for Loxahatchee-based J&J Family of Farms Inc., expects volume and quality to improve as spring moves forward.

“March will be better than February, and April will be better than March,” he said in late February.

“Beginning in March, we will get into more favorable growing conditions. We will peak with production in Florida in April and early May and, weather permitting, will go through Memorial Day.”

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