Hail Hitting Local Orchards

Here we go again!

We’re expecting isolated thunderstorms which may be brief but intense.

Anytime hail comes in the late summer to early fall, we have to worry about crop damage.

There is a very good possibility of hail with these next round of thunderstorms.

“Right here we had nickel size hail you can see the damage to the outside skin of the peach and ultimately that can cause bruising internally and cause them to rot potentially,” says David Hunter of Sugar Plum Acres.

Something that isn’t good news for any orchardist.

Hunter says of the damaged fruit “it has a negative affect, people aren’t going to want those peaches”

Damage can still be seen on the peaches from the last storm that came through.

Hunter says “we had 60 mph winds and pretty heavy hail damage, so that can bruise some of the peaches”

And with more wind, lightning, and hail in the forecast, more damage could be on it’s way for Sugar Plum Acres peaches.

Hunter says “there will be peaches on the ground, broken limbs. Usually high winds and that will knock the peaches of the trees so that is more loss there.”

Peaches aren’t the only fruit susceptible to the bad weather.

Pears are coming in early this season.

“Any of the soft stone fruits would be affected negatively by hail,” says Hunter.

Out of their hands, all the orchardists can do is sit and wait.

“There really isn’t anything you can do other than hope and pray that the damage isn’t going to be too great,” Hunter adds.

For now, peach picking goes on.

Hunter says this year there was no frost damage they did have had a prolific amount of peaches.

So even with the storm damaged peaches, they are still doing well and there’s plenty of good peaches to pick.

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