Despite a mild winter which threatened to provide too few chill hours, Georgia peach growers are expecting good early volumes. Harvest is expected to begin in a little over a week, and good volumes are anticipated through July.
Growers have been fortunate this season, said Will McGehee of Pearson Farm. A mild winter seems not to have affected trees despite worries about not having enough chill hours.
“Because peaches need a certain number of hours below a certain temperature, we were concerned,” said McGehee, “but the bloom looks great and the fruit set is amazing.” Too few chill hours can affect fruit set, yield per tree and the overall quality of peaches, so many in the industry are feeling fortunate the mild winter didn't affect this year's crop.
Good production is expected from May through July, said McGehee, with volumes tapering off for late varieties in August.
Early signs also point to good quality, said Cindy Dickey of Dickey Farms, and with the start of harvest so close, there's less of a possibility anything can derail what looks to be a good season.
“We're no more than ten days away from the start of picking,” she said, “and so far, quality looks good and everything's going well.”