Farmers Worry About Strawberries

Louisiana's strawberry farmers worry that covers spread over their plants for the past week may not be enough to protect tender blossoms and ripening fruit from this week's deep freezes.

Strawberries are Louisiana's leading fruit crop. The LSU AgCenter says 397 acres brought a gross farm value of $17.4 million last year.

Eric Morrow of Ponchatoula said Monday he's been picking strawberries seven days a week for a month. He says all they can do is keep their fingers crossed.

Kevin Liuzza of Independence is worried both about his 95 acres of strawberries and his 150 acres of cabbages — about three-quarters of Louisiana's total cabbage planting. He says growers across the South are worried the traditional New Year's Day dish may be in short supply.