For some North Dakotans, peaches are summer essential. The fruit is typically associated with the state of Georgia, but this year the crop suffered significant losses due to a warm winter followed by heavy frost. However, for lovers of peach cobbler, peaches and cream and peach sweet tea, the news is not all bad.

Matthew Preszler, Cash Wise’s assistant produce manager, said the Georgia peach crop disaster hasn’t soured North Dakotans on the tasty summer fruit, but it has pinched some customers’ pocketbooks.

“It’s put a lot of upwards price pressure on the markets,” said Preszler.

For some customers like Linda Hill, there’s nothing that compares to a fresh Georgia peach.

“A Georgia peach is not mealy, it’s juicy, it’s sweet... I don’t know what else to tell you, they’re delicious,” said Hill.

Prices are averaging around 30% higher than they were last year.

“Even our sale price right now at $2.98 a pound, you know, last year around this time, you’re looking at $1.98 a pound,” said Preszler.

Preszler said that the further we get into summer, peach prices may become sweeter.

“South Carolina’s crop is going to start coming into the picture, Illinois’ crop is going to come, and then finally the coup de grâce, Colorado’s crop will come into the picture, so as these other states start coming into the market, we might see prices drop,” said Preszler.

Many people love to eat peaches during the summer, but North Dakotans love to can them.

“We still have a lot of people who can, so that’s devastating to us,” said Preszler.

The news isn’t all rotten, though. Preszler said California has developed a way to imitate Georgia’s unique growing conditions.

“After they pick them, they warehouse them warm for one to two days, and they control that humidity in the building up to about 98% to 100%,” said Preszler.

For customers craving a peachy treat, Cash Wise hasn’t had a problem keeping the summer staple stocked.

Peaches are a key ingredient in kuchen, a popular German pastry.

Source - https://www.kfyrtv.com