May 14, 2008
Morven - Peach growers are optimistic about this years crop. Even though it's small, it's good quality.
Last year the Easter freeze damaged nearly 50% of the peaches in Brooks County. This year, several cold snaps wiped out more than that.
But growers say while the crop may be small, the taste is anything but.
It's peach picking time in South Georgia and this year's crop looks good. "What we are picking now has good quality, its got good color, the size has been fairly well and the market's been strong. The demand has been real well," says Irvin Lawson of Lawson's Peach shed.
But Lawson says he's having a hard time keeping up with the demand.
"There's people calling, putting in orders and we just don't have enough boxes to dill the order. We are just running way low from what I'd wish."
In February, the peach outlook was good and Lawson expected to harvest 70% of the crop. But when it came time to pick the peaches he was only left with 40.
For that, he blames the frost. "We had three frosts. Once the last day of February, then one two weeks later, then the 25th of April. Those three together pretty much put a hurting on it."
In fact, this years peach crop is the smallest he's had in years and with a slow economy, it will be a struggle just to break even. "The last year or two, with fuel and fertilizer prices, its going to be tough," Lawson says.
But despite the loss, Lawson says he's got enough peaches to stock his shed and make it to market.
Lawson's Peach shed is open from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night, seven days a week.
You can also get your hands on some juicy peach products the 21 st Annual Morven Peach Festival this Saturday at 9:00 AM.
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