In Grainger County, tomatoes are one of the things they’re known for and it’s something that brings people to the area every year.

On Wednesday when severe weather came by Shane Pierce’s family farm, he braced for the worst possible scenario which became a reality.

Pierce Farms, a 112-acre tomato farm, lost nearly 40% of its crop due to the winds that destroyed the plants and greenhouses that were helping them grow.

“I do know it will hurt the harvest, so the harvest won’t be as good as it could have been,” said Pierce.

All 16 greenhouses on the farm were damaged, and it’ll take an estimated half a million dollars to make those repairs and make up for missed revenue from the lost crops.

Despite being set back for a few weeks, Pierce said they’ll still be able to provide to nearby grocery stores and the Grainger County Tomato Festival that takes place in July.

“When you get them just smile and kindly know what we have to go through and just take a moment and thank a farmer,” said Pierce.

Pierce said he doesn’t believe his farm’s loss will impact the price of tomatoes moving forward this season.

Source - https://www.wvlt.tv