Following a week marked by frost, Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) stone fruit growers maintain a cautious optimism regarding their crops. Scott MacSween, proprietor of MacSween Farms in NOTL, shared, "We don't think we have much damage." Despite the frost on April 25 and temperatures around zero on April 26, expectations for a full crop remain. An early bloom, spurred by a mild January, had heightened concerns over potential frost damage to peaches, apricots, cherries, nectarines, and plums, which typically flower towards the end of April or early May.
MacSween, in communication with other local stone fruit farmers, believes the situation 'could have been a lot worse'. He added: 'I am optimistic', citing the critical temperature threshold. The definitive assessment of the frost's impact, however, will be delayed until a few weeks later, when farmers assess and prune any damaged or dead foliage. Despite the potential for 30 to 40 percent crop damage from the recent cold, the practice of overproducing by about 70 percent allows for a positive outlook. This event mirrors challenges faced by Okanagan stone fruit farmers in British Columbia earlier this year, who anticipated significant losses due to a cold January.
Source: niagaranow.com