Late Spring Freeze Wiped Out Peach Crop In Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- The hard freeze in April in Arkansas did some of its greatest damage to the state's peach orchards. After harvesting 4,200 tons of peaches last year, the state's orchards are

Thursday, July 26th 2007, 3:53 am

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- The hard freeze in April in Arkansas did some of its greatest damage to the state's peach orchards. After harvesting 4,200 tons of peaches last year, the state's orchards are expected to produce just 100 tons of the fruit this
year.

If that projection is accurate, it will be the smallest Arkansas peach crop since 1955 -- when a similar late-spring freeze hit the state.

The state endured three straight nights of 25-degree cold April Sixth through Eighth.

Peach grower Rocky Friend says he could see the effects almost immediately in his orchard in Boone County. He says that within two days, the tiny peaches had turned black. Within a week, they were on the ground.

Friend says he is confident that next year will be better.