|
Stone Fruits look sad
This is a picture from Ben at Quarry Hill. Date: April 8.
That's 1 of several hard freezes after the cherries, peaches, plums, apples, etc all started blooming.
The goal there was to create just enough heat to keep the frost from settling in and destroying the buds. That's one of many fires he lit that night. It didn't work.
Other guys hired helicopters to fly over and help circulate warmer air from higher up and pushing it towards the ground. Wind machines were deployed. And water - which will freeze, protecting the buds. All take a lot of resources and time with varying results.
Peaches, Plums, Apricots, and Even Apples
The orchards are wide-spread devastated. Cherries - essentially none. Plums, Apricots, and Peaches. - similar. Apples, some varieties took a hard hit, but not near as bad as the stone fruits.
One of our orchards has a block of peach trees on a very high ridge. Those look like they survived and we should have peaches, though not the variety and long season we usually have.
Widespread Damage
Ohio wasn't the only one hit hard. Michigan - the nation's largest cherry producing region - is wiped out. Northern peaches, from PA and NY, also wiped out. Across the northern states, a rough winter combined with a cold, damp spring has caused widespread damage.
One grower was telling me about a contact his co-op has in Southeast Pennsylvania. It's a large orchard operation that usually has 75 immigrant workers for a harvest crew. This year, they have just 5.
This too shall pass
Farmers are always optimistic. You have to be to risk your livelihood on the weather. While this year's crop's won't yield much, there is always next year. And with every bite we take this year, let's remember how fortunate we are to have this delicious fruit!
|