With freezing temperatures expected this weekend, strawberry growers across Central Florida are preparing for long nights and high-stakes decisions that could affect both their crops and the groundwater beneath them.
To protect strawberries from freezing air, farmers spray groundwater over plants. As the water freezes, it releases heat that helps prevent damage to fragile blooms. The strategy can save crops, but it requires large amounts of water and can strain aquifers when multiple farms pump at the same time.
For growers, preparation begins well before temperatures drop…