Many Iowans have seen images of crumpled grain bins and vast corn fields flattened by the powerful derecho that struck Iowa on Aug. 10. But vegetable farmers were just as devastated by the storm, as its powerful winds – equal in places to a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane – pummeled high tunnels, shredded high-value specialty crops and damaged critical farm infrastructure, like packing sheds and walk-in coolers.
On Aug. 21, we visited three PFI specialty crop farmers – Ann Franzenburg, of Pheasant Run Farm in Van Horne; Donna Warhover, of Morning Glory farm in Mount Vernon; and Laura Krouse, of Abbe Hills Farm in Mount Vernon – to capture the scope of damage they experienced.
