No Peaches This Year

[Teresa]

Thanks to last weekends freezing temperatures (upper 20's Friday, Saturday and Sunday night) the peach crop in SC is almost non-existent for this year. I know in the upstate where we live it is completely wiped out. I can't remember this ever happening, though I do remember it taking a pretty big hit a few times. The owner of the farm that is closest to us and the one where I usually go and get Peaches from said on Monday that peaches are 90% of his income. He has insurance to cover his loss, but it is the workers in the fields and the high school kids that work in the produce store packing the peaches for the customers that will really be missing work this year. I guess I had never thought about how the weather could completely wipe out a season in just a couple of days.
The good news is-the strawberries survived!!! The growers turned on their above ground irrigation systems, commonly known as sprinklers  and coated them with water so it would freeze and protect the berries.
I think it is time for Spring. We've had a little Summer already (85 degree days) and now Winter has returned for a week or so. Spring would be nice!!

[doxielady5569128]

That is so sad!   What a devastating thing for the local orcards and the economy in your area.  It is always frustrating when stuff like that happens.  I think I read somewhere that when a peach orchard is ruined it takes 3 years for them to get back to 100 percent again.  Is that true???   I heard blueberries took quite a hit too.   

I certainly hope things warm up for you all real soon.   We had the same thing here in Nebraska.  There was one day in March where a town nearby mine was warmer than Cancun, Mexico!!!!   Now, it is cold and been freezing overnight for the last few days.   Looks like we are in store for a sunny weekend though.  (because I have to be inside at work ll day.  )  So, spring should be headed your way. Eventually.

[Teresa]

The weird thing here is we've had spring, in spurts. That is one thing I can say I don't enjoy about the South. We often don't get to enjoy the spring. We will have a few perfect spring days (like yesterday-70 degrees) and then we have 85 degree days. After than we have those few cold ones again and if we are luck a couple more nice ones. Then we seem to hit summer weather. Occasionally we have a great year and spring will actually stay around and be enjoyable.
The freeze killed the peaches that were forming, but didn't damage the trees themselves, however I could see it taking a few years for the orchards to recoup the money lost this season. One thing most peach farmers do is have another crop such as strawberries or sometimes they will have a large vegetable farm where they will sell the crops to the local restaurants and farmers markets. I didn't realize until last week that SC was the second highest peach-producing state behind California.
Rich and Deb were fortunate last year. They received a treatbox from Schatzi and Molly right when the peaches came in so they had a chance to sample some, right off the farm!

[doxielady5569128]

I'm glad the trees were not damaged.  That would have made things so much worse!   As far as the fleeting spring goes, Nebraska has the same thing.  One day its hot and sunny, and the next day it is snowing.  Sometimes we go from 70 degrees, to thunderstorms, and snow all in te same day.  That has happened twice already this year.  Around here we always say, don't like the weather???  Wait an hour and it will be totally different.     Its funny to say, but sometimes its actually true.  We have crazy weather here.   :idiot: 
I really hope you guys are in store for some nice weather for the remainder of the spring.   Hopefully the peaches can recoup quickly.