Dec 13, 2011

Weather, economy make Southwest Florida farmers grim reapers

December’s mild weather to date doesn’t reassure farmer Robert Starkweather. He’s still struggling to rebound from a rash of cold snaps last winter that cost him as much as $1.2 million.

The first icy blast hit Starkweather’s tomato acreage on SR 82 east of Fort Myers last Dec. 7. To make matters worse, he’d broken five bones in his hand in a traffic crash the night before.

“I went to the hospital, took pain medication, and then worked all night to save my crops. It didn’t help that I’m right-handed,” the 45-year-old Starkweather said, adding:

“If we get another big freeze, I couldn’t farm. And, I’m not the only one – there will be big farmers who no longer will be in business.” Ft. Myers News-Press

Read more of the story here.