“In the past three weeks packing a good volume of fruit,” says J.W. Yonce III with J.W. Yonce & Sons Inc. in Johnston, S.C. “We’re a bit early this year, about 4-5 days or maybe even a week.” The early start comes after a cool winter and healthy bloom when the cold broke followed by a warm spring. Supplies, which started packing May 1, are anticipated to go until roughly September 15th and it’s anticipated that volumes have bounced back significantly from the roughly 20 percent of fruit the region had last year.
Sizing is building
While the quality looks and tastes good, sizing is starting to increase on the peaches. “Our early fruit we didn’t get a lot of sizes out of it but as we approach the latter part of May and June we’re packing all sizes now,” he says. At the same time, demand is strong for South Carolina peaches. “We have been a little surprised with the demand so far—school’s not out yet and people are still in their routines so that doesn’t usually start until the third or second week of June,” Yonce says. “But we’ve been surprised at our movement. There’s been good demand.”
At the same time, California is also supplying peaches and Yonce believes that like South Carolina, smaller sizes have moved into a wider variety of sizes now. “Georgia did not have a lot of early fruit but I think they’re starting to move a lot now. They’re starting to crank up a bit so there’ll be more peaches out there and it’ll take awhile for the market to adjust itself,” he says.
All of that has led to good prices, comparable to 2016 notes Yonce. “There’s been a steady flow and demand and supply haven’t exceeded so far,” he adds.
While the company’s reach extends as far as New York, Detroit and past Chicago, to the Midwest back to the East coast, this year Yonce is turning its eye south to market to that region. “We’re starting to do because this new trucking law is forcing trucks to take a little longer to deliver the product now,” he says. “Trucking costs have gone up somewhat this year and it’s costing more for some destinations.”
Looking ahead though, he anticipates a good volume of fruit for June which Yonce will continue to push.
J.W. Yonce III
J.W. Yonce & Sons Inc.
Tel : +1 (803) 275-3244
sonny@bigsmilepeaches.com
www.bigsmilepeaches.com