Middle Georgia Peach farmers were set to hit a high crop yield for peaches this year, but after temperatures got down to the twenties last Sunday, many are facing a loss.

"We've certainly had some years where we've lost them all," says owner of Dickey Farms, Robert Dickey.

He says he's grateful their peach loss this year isn't as severe.

"Usually this time of year, the peaches have just passed blooming, and they're loaded with lots of fruit on the tree, but we had a freeze last Sunday morning that really hurt some of the blossoms on the trees," he says.

Dickey says the mid-20-degree temperatures left some trees with no fruit at all. He estimates his loss at about 25 percent.

"That's part of growing peaches, though, we have that dilemma and that possibility every year."

And while Dickey says he doesn't know the exact damage of the crop, he's confident there will be enough to go around.

He says, "I think we've got plenty of peaches for everybody to get in the stores, we've had great demand for Georgia peaches throughout the country and we'll have a few less of them but I think the ones we have, will have a great quality, be large and juicy Georgia peaches."

He says there's multiple obstacles they cannot control, saying, "We deal with it every year, whether it's the weather, or the rainfall, or markets, it's a real challenge to grow peaches, but it'll be another good year for Georgia peaches."

Dickey says they plan to start the handpicking harvest in the middle of May.

Source - http://www.13wmaz.com/