This freezing weather is a nerve racking time for local Strawberry and Citrus farmers. Just about everything is being covered up with fabric to keep the plants warmer.
In Plaquemines Parish Citrus grower Ricky Bechnel says, ''25 degrees is the magic number that you would normally freeze the fruit on the tree."
He says the older orange and satsuma trees tend to hold up better in this weather, but he's worried about the younger lime, lemon and grapefruit trees.
Bechnel Interview:
"I think it's going to be some of the coldest temperatures since the '89 freeze," Bechnel said. He fears they could see some big losses.
Meanwhile, there's a scramble on in Ponchatoula to protect the strawberries.
"All the fields are covered with row cover,'' said County Agent Sandra Benjamin.
Benjamin Interview:
The fabric covers can keep the berry plants up to 6 degrees warmer and that could be enough to avoid significant damage.
Benjamin expects the cold weather to delay the strawberry harvest by a couple of weeks, but not lead to significant crop losses.
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