Greenhouse farmers warned to brace for hurricane season

As the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins, greenhouse farmers are being urged to step up preparations to safeguard their structures and crops.

The call comes from Diandra Rowe, managing director of Abbey Garden Farm and the Caribbean's Young Farmer of the Year for 2023. Drawing from personal experience, Rowe knows all too well the costly consequences of inadequate preparation - her greenhouse operation sustained an estimated $40 million in damage during Hurricane Beryl last July.

That devastating loss has positioned her to become a vocal advocate for better hurricane preparedness among greenhouse operators.

For Rowe, storm readiness begins long before a hurricane is forecasted - it starts at the design and construction stage.

"It is important to think of your greenhouse structure and your design. When erecting your greenhouse, you should consider where it will be placed. It's always best to construct your greenhouse in an area where it's protected from heavy wind and it's not prone to flooding," she explains.

Farmers whose lands are located in flood-prone zones are advised to take extra precautions.

"I also suggest that you select durable materials or weather-resistant frame materials such as galvanised steel over constructing your greenhouse with wood and plastic. Also, consider using locking profiles to secure plastic and insect screens to greenhouse frames for faster and easier removal and reinstallation," says Rowe.

She also advises digging trenches around greenhouses to help divert floodwaters away from the structures.