Tropical Storm Bonnie spares south Florida crops

Excerpts from a 7/23/2010 The Packer article by Doug Ohlemeier

Tropical Storm Bonnie has struck south Florida but in early reports, grower-shippers say the first tropical storm of the season hasn’t caused any major damage.

Mary Ostlund, director of marketing for Homestead-based Brooks Tropicals Inc., said the storm’s 40 mph winds weren’t damaging.“We did get a lot of rain but we haven’t seen a lot of damage,” she said July 23.

In mid- and late July, south Florida avocado grower-shippers are normally in the peak of their June-January production.Because of the severe cold that struck the growing region last winter, Ostlund said that peak has been delayed until mid-August.Though volume so far is normal, the deal is running about a month late, she said.