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Spring freeze results in bitter harvest for peach growers
PALISADE, Colo. (AP)--A spring freeze is causing troubles for Colorado's peach harvest, resulting in fewer peaches in the grocery stores and predictions of losses for growers in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the crop has soft suture and split pit, which causes part of a peach to ripen before the rest of it. Growers are picking their peaches early to avoid those problems, which yields smaller peaches that aren't as sweet. Bad peaches are getting tossed. Bruce Talbott, co-owner Talbott Farms in Palisade, said his farm lost about 20 percent of its early-season crop and expects to lose 5 percent this month. The losses could reach $30,000. "This is the worst I've ever seen it," Talbott said. "I've never seen some people walk away from some blocks and some varieties." Talbott estimated that Colorado's peach industry, concentrated in the western part of the state, will lose $500,000 this season. Harold Larsen, a plant pathologist with Colorado State University, said Colorado's harvest could fall 3,000 tons below the 13,000 tons projected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Colorado peach harvest starts in July and runs through August. There are usually fewer problems with late-season peaches because they blossom later when the weather is warmer. King Soopers hasn't seen many problems with the peaches so far, but has seen a 30 percent drop in the amount of peaches available. "Right now we're trying to bring in as much as we can because we're a strong supporter of Colorado-grown produce," said Trail Daugherty, spokesman for the grocery chain. But King Soopers might have to supplement its produce with out-of-state peaches, Daugherty added. A peach with soft suture is safe to eat. But growers like to wait until the fruit ripens on the tree to pick it, so a peach with the problem will become overripe and bruised on the suture, or crease. The bruised skin usually ruptures during shipping, making the fruit susceptible to mold or insects that can ruin the entire shipment. Many growers get rid of the soft-suture peaches to avoid that. This season's problems were compounded by record-high temperatures in June. In mild summers, the rest of the peach can catch up with the already ripened part, but the heat hastens the process. Theresa High, owner of High Country Orchards in Palisade, said her peaches were so damaged that she doesn't know if she'll be able to salvage any of the harvest. She said she wishes the frost had killed the crop in the spring. "At least we could have cut our losses in April," High said. Date: 8/22/07
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