After May frosts wiped out around 80 percent of the crop in 2021, Henderson County growers rebounded last year, harvesting a bumper crop. However, so did growers in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. This led to glut of apples, especially juice apples. Still, apple stands and U-pick orchards are opening now and the 14 growers who have booths at this weekend’s Apple Festival expect to have plenty of product.
Last spring’s weather led to a slew of overnight freezes that left the apple country with a short crop and in some cases less than supermarket quality fresh apples. However, growers have been mystified this year at the spottiness of the cold-weather damage.
“It was very variable. It was kind of odd the way it was,” said one grower. There did not seem to be any pattern based on geography, elevation or variety. Although Fujis were hit hard, freeze damage was seemingly random. “Even on individual farms, you can see rows that were just completely wiped out and you can see rows that have almost a full crop. It was just all over the place.”
Source: hendersonvillelightning.com
