According to agricultural officials and growers, multiple spring freezes followed by late summer drought and high temperatures, have had a significant impact on the apple and peach harvest across the Tri-State area. Apple production in West Virginia is projected to be 10.2 million pounds less than 2015, while the peach harvest was projected to be 2,900 tons, half the amount of last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture crop forecasts said.
USDA statistics for Maryland and Pennsylvania showed declines as well, although not quite as dramatic.
Peaches in Maryland are projected to take the largest hit between the two states, decreasing by about 40 percent from last year.
Locally, the peach yield dropped by 50 percent or more, depending on the farm's location and varieties.
In West Virginia, Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan and Hampshire counties account for well over 90 percent of the state's apple and peach production, according to state figures.
Greg Butler of B&G Orchards Inc. near Martinsburg reported similar results as a result of the spring freeze.
He said the weather impact varied among apple varieties with some, like the state's native Golden Delicious, faring better than Red Delicious.
The government reported about six "hard" freezes in April. He said the crops were further harmed by high temperatures and dry conditions in the late summer.
The USDA reported in the first half of September that the brown marmorated stink bug — a notable pest for orchardists — was being found in "much greater abundance" in orchards than the same time last year.
Several inches of rain that fell over the last few days of September was a welcome sight. It could help late-season varieties like Granny Smith and Fuji apples, but the damage has been done with varieties already off the tree, several farmers said.
Lackluster appearance in apples has been identified as a problem by farmers around the region, and Tracey urged consumers to be "a little forgiving" this year in terms of the fruit's appearance.
Despite the weather conditions, Butler said they expect their apple crop to be off by 20 to 30 percent, and saw a loss of about 30 percent of the peach crop among their 100 acres of trees.
He said they burned round bales of hay, flew helicopters over their orchard and employed other tactics to try to combat the freezing conditions this spring.
Although West Virginia ranks relatively high among the states for apple production, Butler said prices for processing apples for applesauce are particularly depressed due to the crop in Washington state, which grows more than all of the other states combined.
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com
