Introduction
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Blueberry and strawberry fields at South Mountain Farm were buried under large chunks of ice.
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While it looks picturesque in the morning sunshine, it can also have disastrous effects on plants and farmers’ businesses.
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Spray the plants with fresh water overnight to create a thin layer of ice, which will help protect the plants. However, too much ice can cause plants to crack and collapse.
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“Freezing nights like this are mentally and physically draining and emotionally taxing. One wrong change in temperature, wind direction or time of day can mean the loss of an entire crop, with months of planning and care undone overnight.”
Clermont, Florida – In daylight it looks like a glass forest. Every leaf, branch, and fruit in the fields of Lake County is wrapped in a thick layer of translucent armor.
But for farmers here, it’s not a winter wonderland.
Owners and staff at South Mountain Farm in Clermont, Florida, stayed up all night to monitor their plants and fields as frigid temperatures hit the area.
‘The events we had last night were catastrophic’
“We knew it was going to be a terrible night. When you’re making ice at eight o’clock, it’s going to be a very, very bad night,” said David Hill, one of the owners.
“We’ve done this a million times in cold weather. We do overhead irrigation, either wash away the frost or freeze, put a protective layer of water, ice around the berries and plants. Typically, it’s 30 degrees, 32 degrees, not too windy. Last night’s event was catastrophic.”
what happened?
The ice was too heavy for some of the sprinklers that hovered over the fields. So when a plant gets heavy and falls over, so does the sprinkler system.
“We have overhead irrigation pipes in the fields and, you know, the plants are all around and it’s solid ice and they’ll use that to remove the pipes,” the owner said.
what’s next
Sunday night brought even colder temperatures to the area. The farm is closed Saturday and Sunday due to ice.
What follows is a matter of getting through the night, assessing the damage, and figuring out how to move on.
“During freeze events, farmers use overhead irrigation to protect crops by providing continuous watering. When the water freezes, it releases heat, creating a protective layer of ice that helps plants stay at survivable temperatures. It’s a delicate balance that requires constant monitoring, long hours of work, and a lot of experience,” the farm wrote on its Facebook page.
“Freezing nights like this are mentally and physically draining and emotionally taxing. One wrong change in temperature, wind direction or time of day can mean the loss of an entire crop, with months of planning and care undone overnight.”
source
FOX 35’s Jessica Dobson at South Mountain Farm on the morning of Sunday, February 1, 2026. She talks to farmers and gives viewers a first-hand look at the ice. South Mountain also posts information about ice and freezing temperatures on its Facebook page.