One of the best things about summertime in Georgia is the famous Georgia Peach, but this year, central Georgia peach farmers are facing losses of about 90% of their crop.
That means, you won’t likely find early Georgia peaches in your local grocery store this summer. Usually, Georgia’s famous fruit starts appearing in late spring and lasts until sometime in August. Georgia peach farmers say not enough chill hours in December, a warm February, and frosts in March compounded another to create the disaster.
In addition to the Georgia farmers who will be losing a lot of income, migrant workers who rely on the peach crop for summer jobs will also be forced to look for work elsewhere.
The lack of Georgia peaches will be felt locally, according to Chattooga County Extension Agent Rebecca Thomas. Each year, the Chattooga County 4H program has a fundraiser with Georgia peaches from Dickey’s Farms in Musella. Thomas says that right now, Dickey’s is unable to give them word on cost and availability for the freestone peaches that are normally delivered in July. The county extension agent told WZQZ News on Monday, “Right now it’s a waiting game. We are hoping that the later peaches weren’t affected as bad as the early peaches”.
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