Peach farmers across Middle Georgia say their crop has been all but wiped out by an unusually warm winter, which caused fruit development earlier than normal, followed by a brutal cold snap in March that killed approximately 90% of the nascent buds.
Lawton Pearson, a fifth-generation peach farmer and partner at Pearson Farm near Fort Valley, said in a good year, his farm employs as many as 250 local and seasonal workers combined to help with the harvest. But this year, after 95% of his crop was destroyed, he will only need about 40.
Lane Southern Orchards, another large producer near Fort Valley, usually employs about 350 seasonal workers, but this year they are down to about 80, said CEO Mark Sanchez. Even the annual Georgia Peach Festival, held this Friday and Saturday in Fort Valley and next weekend in nearby Byron, will look slightly different.
“Georgia peaches are iconic — they’re a symbol of the success of Georgia’s agriculture industry,” Harper said. “We’re going to work around the clock to make sure our peach growers rebound and our peach production is better than ever.”
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