Georgia blueberry crop "devastated" by freezing temperatures and frost

WARE CO., GA (WALB) - One Ware County blueberry farmer calls Thursday night's freezing weather devastating to his crops. Friday the state agriculture commissioner will fly to 8 farms to survey the damage done to many crops by frost and freezing temperatures.

 Owner Joe Cornelius of the J & B Blueberry Farm in Manor  tells us that he estimates he lost 90 percent of his rabbit eye variety of blueberries due to the weather Wednesday night.

He said many other Georgia and North Carolina farmers are reporting that the cold temperatures destroyed this year's blueberry crop.

"A good bit if not all of their high bush crop has been wiped out," said Joe Corelius.  "So we are probably going to see a significant shortage of fresh blueberries in the market here in the United States."

The blueberry production in  Georgia in 2015 was estimated to be worth about $255 million, so this freeze a major blow to the state's farmers.

Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will fly to 8 different farms across Middle and South Georgia Friday to survey the crop damage done by the freezing temperatures.

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