PLANT CITY, Fla. — In the predawn hours of Tuesday, a battle against the elements unfolded at Parkesdale Farms as their sprinklers activated, combating the chilling temperatures and the looming threat of frost on their prized strawberries.

Although it might seem counterproductive, strawberry farmers apply a layer of ice to their crops during freeze alerts.

This method effectively shields the berries by forming a thin insulating layer of air between the fruit and the ice, akin to a miniature igloo.

“Frost can start forming even before you hit 32 degrees,” explained Matt Parke, Vice President of Parkesdale Farms. “Within a field, some areas can freeze while others remain unfrozen, so we begin our monitoring as soon as temperatures dip into the mid-30s.”

In anticipation, crews had been on high alert for days, picking ripe strawberries and meticulously checking all pumps, pipes, and irrigation systems to ensure flawless operation when it became crucial.

Parke said any damaged berries can usually be sorted out later, but the real priority right now is protecting the plants’ flowers, the small white blooms that will eventually become strawberries.

Those flowers are especially valuable. They produce the February crop, which traditionally brings the highest profits of the season and supplies strawberries for Valentine’s Day.

“There’s a lot of abundance of flowers out there right now,” Parke said. “That’s really what we’re protecting.”

The cold weather could have an impact at the grocery store since the cold will cause the berries to ripen more slowly and thus raise prices for consumers.

“When there aren’t enough berries, the price goes up,” Parke said. “Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll probably see prices increase because of the cold weather.”

While the chill may delay ripening and cause a short-term bump in prices, he does not expect a dramatic spike.

For now, it’s a waiting game. Parke says he won’t know the full extent of any damage to his crops until the cold snap passes.