Southeast US peach crop devestated by low chill hours
Alabama was one of the states hit the hardest. Cooperative Extension System fruit specialists are estimating Alabama’s peach producers are harvesting only 10 to 30 percent of their normal crop this season.
Dr. Edgar Vinson, Extension fruit specialist, said that the low chill hours caused problems with peach trees. “The chill hours we received this year were among the lowest on record. At least 800 to 850 chill hours (hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit) are preferred to satisfy the chill hour requirement of most of the peach varieties,” said Vinson.
In addition to the low number of chill hours, peach producers in Alabama also had to battle the effects of a serious drought. Vinson said that the addition of the drought to the chill problem makes things even more challenging for producers. “When you add the low chill hour numbers with the drought from last year you have a particularly challenging season for peach production,” said Vinson
Georgia hasn't fared much better. Last month, wholesale prices for a case of Georgia peaches reportedly rose 50 percent, from roughly $20 to about $30. Tree after tree, orchard after orchard, farmers tell the same story: no peaches worth picking, a multi-million dollar disaster.
This was a stark contrast compared to the previous year, when Dickey Farms had a spectacular crop. The family’s thousand acres of orchards produced eight million pounds of sweet Georgia peaches. This year’s crop however, would only amount to two million pounds, a 75 percent drop, which could mean a $5 million loss.
source: opelikaobserver.com, wrbl.com
