State’s Crop Survives Weekend’s Sub-Freezing Temperatures
By Clint Thompson
Georgia’s peach crop appears to have survived the sub-freezing temperatures that were prevalent across the state this past weekend.
Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in north Georgia, discussed the impact temperatures as cold as 18 degrees Fahreneheit had on his crop.
“We were really just at about 30% bloom. Everything that was opened pretty much got smoked,” said Echols, who is also president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. “We’ve still got a full crop of peaches here. We’re pretty excited about that. All of that closed stuff is alive. I don’t know how, but it’s nothing short of a miracle. Those little things are pretty tough whenever that bloom is actually closed before it opens. It’s pretty strong.”
Echols also believes the crop in middle Georgia will be okay as well. Peaches overbloom anyway, so if anything, the temperatures helped thin the crop.
Cautious Optimism
Echols is still exercising cautious optimism. He has more than two months left (May 25) before he begins harvesting his peach crop. Echols only has to look to last year’s late April freeze and the impact it had to know he is not out of the woods yet.
“Last year we lost the whole crop on April 22. I think that’s kind of our biggest fear right now because that’s a long way. That was extremely late. That was the latest we ever lost a crop. Usually, our damage comes in the first week of April. We’ve still got our fingers crossed and hoping for the best,” Echols said.
“I think we may have dodged a bullet. I just hope no more bullets come.”