Florida's farmers feed America every winter, and right now they're on their knees.
Back-to-back freezes and a drought that has parched more than 95% of the state have left the state's agricultural community battered and bleeding.
And Ron DeSantis just stepped in after Florida farmers lost more than a billion dollars in a brutal winter crisis.
DeSantis Signs Executive Order to Rush Aid to Florida's Battered Farmers
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-33 on Tuesday, cutting through government red tape to get emergency support directly into the hands of Florida's struggling farmers.
The order facilitates emergency harvesting and shields farmers from further losses, deploying state authority to fast-track recovery resources.
"This action helps facilitate emergency harvesting and protects Florida agriculture from further losses with expedited recovery under state authority and prompt assistance to be provided to Florida's farmers," DeSantis said.
Florida just went through a brutal stretch of dangerous cold — temperatures plunging into the 20s and 30s from Tallahassee all the way down to Miami.
Those aren't just cold nights on the thermostat.
Those are death sentences for the crops Florida farmers had in the field.
AccuWeather's founder Dr. Joel Myers put it bluntly — temperatures dropping to 28 degrees or below for four consecutive hours start causing serious damage to citrus trees.
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Some groves saw lows of 23 and 24 degrees.
Bell pepper growers are looking at nearly 50% crop loss, and one Palm Beach County farmer lost about 300 acres of sweet corn — roughly a third of his entire crop — and is predicting prices will double.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson didn't sugarcoat the damage.
"We've really gotten devastated in Florida," Simpson said, with early estimates putting total losses anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion.
A Pahokee farmer who grows beans, corn, cabbage, and sugar cane said freezes haven't been this severe in 25 years — and he lost about 40% of his above-ground crops.
And that's on top of the drought.
Over 54% of the state is in severe drought, with another 24% under extreme drought conditions.
This Is the Eastern Seaboard's Breadbasket — and It's Hurting
Most Americans don't stop to think about where their winter vegetables actually come from.
Simpson laid it out cold.
"You've got to remember, this time of year we're growing 70-80% of all the fresh vegetables that are sold on the eastern seaboard of the United States," he said.
When those fields freeze, consumers feel it in the checkout line.
One South Florida produce market owner was about as direct as you can get: "100% you are going to feel it in the market."
The Trump administration isn't sitting on its hands, either.
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Simpson is already in talks with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the White House on federal relief.
"I believe the President is going to be very supportive of resources coming back in to support our farmers," Simpson said.
Congressman Byron Donalds and Lt. Governor Jay Collins both backed the governor's move immediately.
"Florida's farmers feed America, especially during the cold winter months," Collins wrote.
"Food security is national security."
He's right — and that statement has never been more true.
DeSantis Showing What Strong Leadership Looks Like When It Counts
Let's be honest about what's happening here.
Florida's agricultural community was already fighting for its life before these freezes ever hit.
The state's citrus industry — once the crown jewel of American agriculture — has seen a staggering 95% production decline since its peak in the late 1990s, pummeled by citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and yes, previous freeze events.
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That's not a rough patch.
That's a generational gut punch to Florida farming families who have worked this land for decades.
Against that backdrop, DeSantis didn't wait around for bureaucrats to hold committee meetings.
He signed the order, got the emergency programs open, and made sure farmers could actually access the help they needed before the damage got worse.
The Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program is now available.
That's the difference between a governor who actually leads and one who talks about caring for farmers from behind a podium.
These are the men and women keeping food on the tables of the entire East Coast every single winter — and right now, they need America's full support, starting with their governor having their backs.
Sources:
- Angel Green, "Florida Gov. DeSantis signs order to aid farmers amid severe weather," WFTV, February 10, 2026.
- Bay News 9, "Florida Agriculture Commissioner says cold caused up to $1.5B in crop damages," February 5, 2026.
- AccuWeather, "Florida growers battle rare freeze as temperatures plunge, threatening crops," February 6, 2026.
- Axios Miami, "Florida's freeze damaged crops. Farmers say it may raise prices, too," February 5, 2026.
- CBS Miami, "South Florida farmers warn that freezing temperatures could lead to higher prices," February 2026.
- Michael Costeines, "DeSantis Signs Executive Order Helping Florida Agriculture Devastated by Winter Weather, Drought," The Floridian, February 10, 2026.
