FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS. WITH THE TEMPERATURES THAT WE’RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW. SHOWCASE OF CITRUS AND CLERMONT SAYS IT MAY TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO KNOW JUST HOW MUCH DAMAGE THE COLD WEATHER HAS DONE. WESH 2’S HAYLEY CROMBLEHOLME SHOWS US WHAT THEY’RE DOING TO AVOID AS MUCH DAMAGE AS POSSIBLE. HAYLEY. SO THEY HAVE ANIMALS HERE TOO. THEY PUT OUT HEAT LAMPS FOR SOME OF THOSE, KEPT SOME INSIDE. BUT AS FAR AS THE TREES, THIS ICE YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS ACTUALLY HELPING TO INSULATE THESE ORANGE TREES. BUT AT THIS POINT THE BUSINESS TELLS ME THEY’RE ACTUALLY CONCERNED THAT AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR CROP MAY NOT MAKE IT FOR NEXT YEAR. AT SHOWCASE OF CITRUS IN CLERMONT, THEIR CAPYBARAS WERE AMONG THE 80 OR SO ANIMALS THAT NEEDED EXTRA PROTECTION FROM THE COLD TEMPERATURES TILL LIKELY TUESDAY. THE ANIMAL CARE MANAGER SAYING THEY HAD TO USE HEAT LAMPS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. MANY OF THE REPTILES WERE MOVED INSIDE, ALONG WITH OTHER ANIMALS. OUR LEMURS RIGHT NOW, THEY’RE INSIDE A INDOOR HOLDING AREA HELD AT ABOUT 80 TO 85 DEGREES TO KEEP THEM WARM. SO IT WAS A LOT OF PREP AND A LOT OF WORK IN THE WORK PAID OFF. ALL OF OUR ANIMALS WERE HAPPY AND HEALTHY, BUT OVER ON THE CITRUS SIDE OF THE BUSINESS, THIS ONE DID BREAK THE HOURS BELOW FREEZING FOR MULTIPLE DAYS TOOK ITS TOLL. IF YOU DIP INTO THE 20S FOR A FEW HOURS, THAT’S ONE THING. IF YOU DIP INTO THE 20S FOR 12 TO 15 HOURS, THAT’S A THAT’S A GAME CHANGER, TARA SAID. WHEN IT GETS THIS COLD, THEY RUN THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEM. WHEN THE WATER FREEZES ONTO THE TREE, IT KIND OF INSULATES IT TO MAKE AN ICE BLANKET, THEY FOCUS ON PROTECTING THE TRUNK OF THE TREES, BUT ANYTHING ABOVE THAT SO-CALLED ICE BLANKET COULD GET DAMAGED. WE HAVE NEXT SEASON’S FRUIT AS THE FLOWER RIGHT NOW. IF THAT FROZE, THEN IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A VIABLE PIECE OF FRUIT FOR NEXT SEASON. AND I’M GOING TO SAY AT LEAST HALF OF OUR CROP IS NOT GOING TO BE AROUND FOR NEXT YEAR. AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON YOU GUYS? YOU KNOW, WE’RE FARMERS. WE’RE NOT QUITTERS. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT AND IT’S GOING TO BE HARD. BUT OUR FOCUS IS KEEPING THE TREE ALIVE. SHE WILL HAVE A BETTER SENSE IN A FEW WEEKS OF HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE. IT’S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE FLORIDA CITRUS, THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSED TO REALLY KIND OF BOUNCE BACK. THE PROJECTIONS WERE GOOD FOR FRUIT OUTPUT AND AND THIS JUST IF IT RUINED THE BLOSSOMS FOR NEXT SEASON, NEXT YEAR, THEN IT’S DEVASTATING. BUT AGAIN, FINGERS CROSSED. AND BECAUSE TEMPERATURES ARE LOOKING LIKE THEY’RE GOING TO DIP AGAIN TONIGHT, THEY’RE STILL TAKING THE SAME PRECAUTIONS THIS EVENING. KEEPING THOSE HEAT LAMPS ON AND RUNNING THE
Central Florida citrus farmers assess impacts of prolonged cold temperatures
Updated: 11:02 PM EST Feb 2, 2026
At Showcase of Citrus in Clermont, they were still assessing the impact of the prolonged cold temperatures, with the numbers set to dip again Monday night. Ahead of the cold, they got prepared, protecting not just their crops, but their animals too. Their Capybaras were among the 80 or so animals that needed extra protection from the cold temperatures till likely Tuesday. The animal care manager said they had to use heat lamps for the very first time. Many of the reptiles were moved inside along with other animals. “Our lemurs right now, they are inside an indoor holding area held at about 80 to 85 degrees to keep them warm. So it was a lot of prep and a lot of work,” said Ryan McKenna, the animal care manager. That work paid off. “All of our animals were happy, cozy, and healthy,” he said. But over on the citrus side of the business, the hours below freezing for multiple days took their toll. “If you dip into the twenties for a few hours, that’s one thing. If you dip into the 20s for 12 to 15 hours, that’s a game changer,” manager Tara Boshell said. She said when it gets this cold, they run their irrigation system.”When the water freezes onto the tree, it kind of insulates it to make almost an ice blanket,” she said. They focus on protecting the trunk of the trees. But anything above that so-called ice blanket could get damaged. “We have next season’s fruit as the flower right now. If that froze, then it’s not going to be a viable piece of fruit for next season. And I’m going to say at least half of our crop is not going to be around for next year,” Boshell said. When asked what kind of impact that would have on the business, she said, “We’re farmers, we’re not quitters. Obviously, it’s going to have an impact, and it’s going to be hard, but our focus is keeping the tree alive.”She said they’ll have a better sense in a few weeks of how much damage was done. “It’s unfortunate because Florida citrus, this was the year that everything was supposed to really kind of bounce back. The projections were good for fruit output, and this, if it ruined the blossoms for next season, next year, then it’s devastating. But again, fingers crossed,” Boshell said. Because temperatures could dip again Monday night, the business said they’re still going to be taking the same steps they were through the weekend.
CLERMONT, Fla. —
At Showcase of Citrus in Clermont, they were still assessing the impact of the prolonged cold temperatures, with the numbers set to dip again Monday night.
Ahead of the cold, they got prepared, protecting not just their crops, but their animals too.
Their Capybaras were among the 80 or so animals that needed extra protection from the cold temperatures till likely Tuesday. The animal care manager said they had to use heat lamps for the very first time.
Many of the reptiles were moved inside along with other animals.
“Our lemurs right now, they are inside an indoor holding area held at about 80 to 85 degrees to keep them warm. So it was a lot of prep and a lot of work,” said Ryan McKenna, the animal care manager.
That work paid off.
“All of our animals were happy, cozy, and healthy,” he said.
But over on the citrus side of the business, the hours below freezing for multiple days took their toll.
“If you dip into the twenties for a few hours, that’s one thing. If you dip into the 20s for 12 to 15 hours, that’s a game changer,” manager Tara Boshell said.
She said when it gets this cold, they run their irrigation system.
“When the water freezes onto the tree, it kind of insulates it to make almost an ice blanket,” she said.
They focus on protecting the trunk of the trees. But anything above that so-called ice blanket could get damaged.
“We have next season’s fruit as the flower right now. If that froze, then it’s not going to be a viable piece of fruit for next season. And I’m going to say at least half of our crop is not going to be around for next year,” Boshell said.
When asked what kind of impact that would have on the business, she said, “We’re farmers, we’re not quitters. Obviously, it’s going to have an impact, and it’s going to be hard, but our focus is keeping the tree alive.”
She said they’ll have a better sense in a few weeks of how much damage was done.
“It’s unfortunate because Florida citrus, this was the year that everything was supposed to really kind of bounce back. The projections were good for fruit output, and this, if it ruined the blossoms for next season, next year, then it’s devastating. But again, fingers crossed,” Boshell said.
Because temperatures could dip again Monday night, the business said they’re still going to be taking the same steps they were through the weekend.