Georgia, South Carolina see worst peach season in over 50 years

Peach growers in Georgia and South Carolina are reeling from losses in a season that will be remembered for one of the lowest yields in more than 50 years. South Carolina lost 90% of the peach crop and Georgia didn't fare much better losing 80%.

Will McGehee, Marketing Director for the Georgia Peach Council says 2017 ranks in the Top 5 worst. “When you go back across time, you’ve got 1955 when we lost pretty much the entire peach crop. 1975 when we had about 3% of a peach crop. 1996, 8%, 2007 was brutal again. And now this year so, yes, it’s going to rank in the top five worst in the last 50 years.”

The losses are being felt far beyond the orchards and the farmers. “You’ve got an entire industry built on these peaches being picked all the way from transportation companies to local help that comes out here to help you and your own family, the guys that are here to do the picking. The box manufacturers, and the guys who put the stickers on the peaches. It affects the entire industry much more than just the farmer that everybody’s used to seeing. It’s a pretty big hit for the whole, you know, ancillary businesses built off of the Georgia peach industry too.” McGehee said.

For consumers, it means peach prices are at a premium. Stokes Produce in Savannah’s Farmer’s market reports skyrocketing prices on peaches. Last year they sold a half-bushel of peaches for $15. This year the same half-bushel costs $45.

Hope remains high however with farmers in Georgia and South Carolina expecting a rebound in 2018. “This doesn’t happen very often. When it happens it’s awful but, you know, history says we’re gonna be right back at it next year and working just as hard or harder than we ever have.” McGehee finished.

source: wsav.com