ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. – Farmers in the Lowcountry are keeping a vigilant eye on weather forecasts as freezing temperatures loom, potentially affecting local agriculture.

At Coosaw Farms, preparation is paramount. The farm, which boasts more than 100,000 blueberry bushes across 75 acres on St. Helena Island, is gearing up for the possibility of a cold snap just months before harvest time.

“It’s a challenge we face every year,” explained Cal Hucks, who oversees operations and cultivation at Coosaw Farms.

In anticipation of the winter storm, the farm is once again implementing its specialized protection strategy to ensure the season remains on course.

“I do believe we’ll be impacted,” Hucks admitted. “However, we’re fully prepared for it. While we hope the storm bypasses us, we’re ready to face it head-on.”

Hucks said they are preparing now. He said they will start running the sprinklers to purposely freeze the plants as soon as the weather gets close to freezing.

“What we’re trying to do is constantly make ice. That is our goal.  That’s why we run these sprinklers on top. We want to coat the entire plant in ice,” he said. “By doing that, we’re insulating what’s on the inside of the ice and protecting that, because ice can’t drop below 32 degrees.”

Any time an element changes form, energy is created. Hucks explained that energy is in the form of heat.

So, when ice changes from a liquid to a solid, it’s heating or insulating the berries or blooms needing protection.

The farm applied the same technique last year before the Lowcountry was blanketed in snow.

“It was interesting. It was kind of unique, but it really didn’t affect our process very much because the water we made was making the ice on the plant. And so, honestly, if anything, the snow and everything in the air kind of helped freeze.  And so, we were successful,” said Hucks.

The farm does have to account for some loss with freezing temperatures, even with protection.

“You’re never going to have perfect coverage 100% of the time. But it greatly reduces the effects we could have,” Hucks said.

But if all goes to plan, Hucks said they’ll be able to produce roughly 2 million pounds of blueberries this season.

As much as preparation and protection are for the business’s success, Hucks said there’s also an emotional attachment to the crops.

“These plants are not just plants. It’s our livelihood, but also they’re like your kids.  You care for them, you protect them,” he said. “You know, we’ve spent years and years growing these plants.”

Coosaw farmers will be in full ‘parent mode’ in the coming weeks.

“Every minute counts. Every minute, we can lose 10 to 15% of what we’re trying to protect. So, if we go down, it’s an issue. We have to make sure that this is done ahead of time,” said Hucks.