Tree-Ripe warns Wisconsin customers of fewer and pricier peaches
"By February, we knew it was going to create major problems," Tiernan Paine said of the warmer than normal winter in Georgia. Paine, the new owner of the company founded by his grandfather, published a blog post on May 30 telling customers of the fruit shortfall this year.
Tree-Ripe expects to start selling peaches June 16, and the shortened window for harvesting freestone peaches is expected to be three weeks, ending July 5. Usually, Tree-Ripe sells peaches into August.
"That's everything they have. I feel very fortunate that we're going to get what we're going to get," he said.
Prices will be higher because of the short supply. Last year, a half-bushel through Tree-Ripe cost $38. This year, it likely will cost $45. Paine expected peach prices could hit $4 a pound; he's hopeful the company can keep its prices around $1.80 a pound. Prices would return to normal next year with a normal harvest.
source: jsonline.com
