In deep southern Illinois, larger orchards have experienced a recovery in peach production, contrasting with a consecutive challenging year for a grower located east of St. Louis. Austin Flamm, of Flamm Orchards near Cobden, reports a full recovery to 100% production levels this season, following a severe reduction to 10% last year due to adverse winter conditions. The improvement necessitated pruning to manage the abundant crop. Nearby, Rendleman Orchards shares a similar positive outcome.
Conversely, Eckert's Inc. in Belleville faced another year of reduced yield, with production halved due to subzero temperatures in January and frost in March during blooming. Chris Eckert, the company's president, highlighted the rarity and financial strain of consecutive poor years, raising concerns over potential trends. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's crop insurance program has been essential for mitigating financial losses.
As a result of the recovery in southern Illinois, consumers can expect peach prices to normalize. Last year, limited availability led to a price increase of approximately 30% at Flamm's and 20% at Eckert's. The fluctuating production levels underscore the vulnerability of agriculture to climatic conditions and the importance of crop insurance in sustaining operations.
Source: nebraskapublicmedia.org