In Alto, Georgia, Jaemor Farms is witnessing peach trees in bloom, marking a significant improvement from the previous year when unexpected weather patterns led to extensive damage to the state's peach production. Drew Echols, the farm's owner and a fifth-generation farmer, highlights the increasing difficulty in predicting bloom times for Georgia peaches due to erratic weather conditions. To mitigate these challenges, growers have adopted innovative approaches, including the introduction of new fruit varieties and the utilization of wind machines to regulate air temperatures around the crops.
The weather remains a critical concern for peach producers, with the climate crisis inducing warmer winters and earlier springs, thereby jeopardizing not only peaches but also other fruit crops such as plums, apples, and apricots. Last year, Georgia experienced a loss exceeding 90% of its peach crop following an unusually warm winter. Despite a more promising outlook this year, the threat of substantial losses looms due to the changing climate and its unpredictable impacts.
Louise Ferguson, a professor at the University of California, Davis, underscores the increasing frequency of temperature fluctuations and warmer conditions, predicting more climate-related disruptions to fruit availability.
Source: edition.cnn.com