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UPDATE: HURRICANE MILTON

October 8, 2024

Hurricane Milton was forecast to become a Category 5 but has dropped to a Category 4 strength storm overnight. It is likely to rebound to a Category 5 later today. Even though it is forecast to weaken before it makes landfall Wednesday, October 9, it is likely to keep growing and have disastrous impacts across a very large area of the Southeast.

  • Port Manatee
    • Will shut down today, October 8, and remain closed through Wednesday, October 9
    • Pending assessment of damage after the storm, it is scheduled to reopen Thursday, October 10
  • Del Monte
    • Plant City’s processing and Distribution Center will be shut down on Wednesday, October 9
    • Ft Lauderdale’s Distribution Center will shut down on Wednesday, October 9
    • Pending assessment of damage after the storm, both DC’s are scheduled to reopen Thursday, October 10
  • Dimare
    • Tampa re-pack and ripening center will be closed Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly Friday this week
  • Central Florida growing region
    • There is concern on the Iceberg, Romaine, and Cabbage crops that are currently planted (with additional plantings scheduled) to begin harvest in December
      • If crops are severely damaged, expect a volatile Iceberg, Romaine and Cabbage market December through January
      • Processors and fresh pack suppliers who source raw product from Florida will have to move West, increasing demand on West Coast supplies
  • Immokalee, Florida growing region
    • There is concern on the Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Squash and Tomato crops in South Florida
      • Hurricane Milton’s landfall will be North of the Immokalee area, but if the area receives enough wind and rain, there will be crop damage that will impact Winter plantings
      • Assessment of damage will begin after the storm passes

Milton forecast to become a Category 5 and looking to downgrade to a category 3 by the time it hits the Florida coast

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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