Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its recent effort to help Florida farmers protect their food supply.
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded more than $265,000 in funding to the Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program.
In partnership with the University of Florida (UF), the program researches and develops efficient strategies to protect U.S. food and agricultural production from weather events and disasters.
“Florida agriculture faces everything from hurricanes to freezes – and our producers need the best information available when disaster strikes,” Rep. Dunn wrote on X. “Glad to see USDA investing in research that will help farmers respond to extreme weather and protect our food supply."
Freeze Recovery Strategies For Blueberry Fields
The recent funding will support a new project to investigate and establish freeze recovery strategies for blueberry fields in the Southeast.
The project will test the crops’ freeze tolerance and measure the effectiveness of pruning strategies to accelerate plant recovery following freeze injury.
“Rapid responses to weather events are critical to maintaining a secure, accessible, safe, nutritious, affordable, and abundant food supply,” the USDA’s NIFA wrote in its announcement.
Florida's Blueberry Industry
The initiative is crucial for Florida farmers, as the Sunshine State sits among the top 10 states across the U.S. for blueberry production. The state produces roughly 17.5 million to 24 million pounds of blueberries annually, with North Central Florida as the primary producer.
Florida’s blueberry season also takes place at the cusp of spring.
Despite Florida’s mild climate, which allows blueberry varieties to ripen weeks ahead of the rest of the country, the state still suffers from freezing temperatures.
In March 2026, freezing temperatures affected Florida and Georgia, causing crop loss and delays in peak production.
