Last week's cold snap has some Adams County fruit growers worried about early-blooming crops.

Preliminary findings at the Penn State indicate the area's cherry crop sustained significant damage following unseasonably cold temperatures in mid-April, said Tara Baugher, co-team leader of the Penn State Tree Fruit and Grape Production Extension Program.

Local growers said they have also seen damage to their apricots, plums and other early-season fruit.

While Adams County's famous apples orchards and grape vineyards appear to have escaped unscathed, growers will not know the full extent of the damage until fruit develops later in the season.

"It's always a waiting game, even in perfect growing conditions," said Tim Jeffcoat, farm manager of Adams County Winery's vineyards.

At Hollabaugh Bros., apricots were the only fruit in-bloom when the cold weather hit, said retail manager Ellie Hollabaugh Vranich. Although apricots are just one of many crops at Hollabaugh's, the farm relies on this and other early fruits to kick-start the spring season.

"We have high hopes that we still have some portion of the apricot crop," Vranich said. "We're just keeping our fingers crossed."

Blooms at Boyer Nurseries and Orchards in Biglerville were also hurt by the cold weather, said co-owner William Lowell, Jr., who suspects the farm will lose at least some of this season's apricots, early peaches, plums and sweet cherries.

The damage, however, could have been worse, he said. Thanks to cold temperatures in March, trees are blooming about a month later than usual, meaning fewer blooms were exposed to damage when the cold snap hit. Mid-April wind may have also helped save some of the crop by slightly raising the temperature around the trees.

Overall, Lowell said, he wouldn't mind saying a permanent adieu to the cold weather this season.

"Once it's warm, we want it to stay warm," he said. "Moderation is the word."

Source - http://www.eveningsun.com/