LEWISBURG, Tenn. — A hard freeze in late March has soured yield prospects for Tennessee’s fresh peach crop. Prospects for the Volunteer State’s apple, grape and berry crops are much better.
Peach trees were worst off in middle Tennessee, where temperatures dipped into the lower 20s. Bill Forgie estimates a 90 percent loss on his 11 acres of peaches near Lewisburg. "The orchard was in full bloom at the time of the freeze," he said.
From March 28-30, Lewisburg’s nightly low ranged from 18-24 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. Hardest-hit across the state were the earlier-maturing peaches preferred by many orchardists.
"We came close to losing the state’s whole peach crop," said Dave Lockwood, University of Tennessee extension fruit specialist.
Although total peach acreage in Tennessee is small, the state’s increasing peach acreage is unique in the region. From 2007-12, Tennessee peach area increased from 613 to 672 acres, according to the USDA. In Kentucky, the same acreage declined from 584 to 512; Indiana dropped from 565 to 429 acres. Ohio, Illinois and Michigan also saw peach areas decline.
Much of the growth in Tennessee is coming from smaller producers. "We’re seeing farms selling at farmers’ markets establish small peach orchards, one-quarter to one-half an acre," said Neal Denton, extension director in Knox County. "Tree fruit is a way they can add some income during the market season."
Some peach growers near Knoxville estimate a 30-50 percent loss, according to Denton. In East Tennessee, the late March freeze reached into the 20s one or two nights, depending on location. The Memphis region, in West Tennessee, saw higher temperatures.
In Middle Tennessee, Bill Forgie also lost four acres of sweet cherries to the freeze. He said it was his third crop loss in 21 years of growing peaches. But it is the second consecutive loss; a late March freeze hit his orchards last year.
"We hope this weather pattern isn’t the new norm," he said.
He will cope by limiting his farm’s market hours and selection this year. "There will be no ‘pick your own’ this year. We bake peach cheesecake and cobblers in the kitchen – but pre-orders only this year," said Forgie. "We are in survival mode, hoping for a good year next year."
