Weather Update

Thurs, Oct. 17th, 2024

Dear Ole Tyme Produce Customers:

After two devastating hurricanes, Helene and Milton, growers in the Southeast U.S. are assessing damage and repairing infrastructure. Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas were heavily impacted by Helene, while Milton directly hit Central Florida, particularly affecting tomato production in key regions.

Significant crop damage has been reported across various produce, including citrus, corn, cabbage, beans, eggplant, peppers, tomato, squash, and strawberries with early assessments indicating up to 80% loss in the Palmetto/Ruskin area and around 50% in Immokalee. The final tomato supplies from Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina were also wiped out, which disrupts the usual supply chain before Florida's harvest picks up.

Additionally, extreme heat in California and weather issues in Central Mexico are contributing to reduced tomato supplies. Overall, the combination of hurricanes and heatwaves is likely to lead to severe supply challenges for multiple crops this fall.

If you have any additional questions, please reach out to your Sales Representative or our Customer Service team.

Thank you,

Ole Tyme Produce