Georgia is third in the nation in peach production, but this year, those sweet Georgia Peaches will be in short supply.  The state has lost over 90% of this year’s crop due to warm weather in the winter and a late frost. 

Georgia normally produces more than 130 million pounds of peaches annually, according to the University of Georgia, and the crop in 2021 was valued at nearly $85 million. Crops like peaches require a certain number of “chill hours,” ranging between 32 degrees and 45 degrees. The cold allows the plants to go into dormancy, much like people need sleep, peaches need those “chill hours” to produce bountiful crops.

The lack of Georgia peaches will likely affect the annual Chattooga County 4H Peach Sale.  The local 4H normally sells peaches from Dickey Farms in Musella, Georgia as a fundraiser.  Lee Dickey, a co-owner of Dickey Farms in Musella, said his earlier peaches, which generally require less time in the cold and had already bloomed, were hit hardest by the late frost. He estimates at least 50% of his crop was lost to the freezes, but is hopeful that later developing varieties will still produce a decent yield.