"NH Peach Growers Adapt to Lost Crop This Year"

"Like other tree fruits in the area, New Hampshire is not expecting a peach crop this year. However, area producers are adapting to this challenge in order to supply the fruit to its customers and planning for next year.

In a typical year, peaches would be available this time of year as the New Hampshire peach harvest occurs in late August and early September. Unfortunately, the severe freezes that affected the region this winter damaged the area’s peach trees leading to little or no peach crop for producers in the state this year. A representative of Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole reported, “Similar to many other farms like us we have a complete loss of peaches due the deep February cold.”

In response to this setback some NH peach growers are adapting to the situation by sourcing peaches from elsewhere. Alyson’s Orchard has been bringing in peaches from New Jersy so its customers can still get the fruit this year. “To cope we have exhausted ourselves driving over eight hours a week, sometimes twice [a week], to bring in fresh New Jersey peaches to sell at our farm store,” Alyson’s shared. “We are doing this by ordering them from a produce company and having them delivered because we know what we are getting is fresh and delicious, and besides trucking ourselves the cost is significantly lower than having them trucked in from California where we do not know when they have been picked.”

Other growers are looking ahead and setting their trees up for next year. Rich Leonard of Miller Farm in Durham did not have any peaches come to fruition this year but has remained busy saying, “This summer I’ve been focused on rehabbing my deer fencing and will prune out peach tree deadwood this fall.”

As has been evidenced by this year’s outcome, peaches are a delicate fruit and New Hampshire lies in the northern-most region in which peaches can grow. NH grows some of the hardier varieties of the fruit. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture there are 114 farms that grow peaches in New Hampshire and cover about 83 acres of land in the state.

Check for updates from your local orchard to see what they are offering throughout the summer and fall!"

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