Florida, the nation's largest tomato producer state, has posted a huge decline in its tomato crop because of the freezing winter weather. The cold weather began in January and wiped out the winter crop.

The lesser production also made the prices of tomato very high in many parts of the country.

According to the data released by Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, the Freezing conditions in early January killed about 70 percent of the state's winter crop. The losses in the tomato crop pushed up the prices in various parts of the nation. Also the dampened demand pushed the tomato buyers to turn to alternative sources, including Mexico.

According to Department of Agriculture figures, weekly U. S. retail prices for fresh tomatoes were reported $1.64 per pound, increasing by 22% while comparing to the same period a year earlier. The state said that the loss for Florida tomato growers it estimated as much as $700 million for this year.

The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange also reported that the shipments dropped in the weeks after the cold snap. After the cold had started shriveling the tomato plants, Florida has started sending the tomatoes via ship in approximately 1.1 million pounds per week. Last year Florida produced more than 25 million pounds of tomatoes on a weekly basis.