Hard freeze affects East Texas produce growers, sellers

Hard freeze affects East Texas produce growers, sellers
Published: Jan. 17, 2024 at 3:21 PM CST|Updated: Jan. 17, 2024 at 9:25 PM CST

CLARKSVILLE CITY, Texas (KLTV) - The frigid East Texas temperatures have not only had an impact on roads, but also on those who stay open year ‘round in the produce business.

Aside from making the roadways difficult to navigate, the hard freeze has taken its toll on places like the Hwy 80 produce business in Clarksville city.

“Lots of plants, tried to get as many of them home so I could put a heater on them. The produce we have being off season staying in a refrigerator out there,” said owner Allison Lott.

It was a very good spring, summer and fall for produce,

Winter is always a slower time for the business, making what ever they can.

“Some produce, local honey, plants. Whatever we can do to get by,” Lott said.

But the hard freeze presented other problems. Including lost sales because they can’t open.

The lost revenue is because the business has been closed for the last three days. There’s no heat in the building.

“I’m sure I’ll have frozen tomatoes when I arrive tomorrow. Right now our hours are intermittent, we don’t have heat. We build little fires, and sit in the truck with heated seats, and play on the phone till somebody may show up,” Lott said.

Produce that doesn’t make it will be a loss, and re-supply can be a problem, having to go to outside sources during winter months.

“One of the suppliers is closed for another week. Then I’ll be going up there and restocking. Next week I’ll fill up all the refrigerators again with fresh produce,” said Lott.

Lott said because she has had customers calling, they will be open Thursday from around 9:30 in the morning, until 1 in the afternoon. They’re located at 903 US Hwy 80 in Clarksville City. You can contact them at 903-241-6003.