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
- There is concern on the Iceberg, Romaine, and Cabbage crops that are currently planted (with additional plantings scheduled) to begin harvest in December
- 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
- There is concern on the Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Squash and Tomato crops in South Florida
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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