Farmers in Southeast Texas say a mild winter and spring have reduced fruit production, leading to smaller crops of peaches, blackberries and blueberries this season.
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A moderate winter and spring limited cold hours for peaches and berries, resulting in lesser fruit harvests in Southeast Texas.
In Texas A&M AgriLife orchards, peach trees had fewer fruits on their branches than usual. Agriculture scientists claim fruit crops need “chill hours,” or chilly weather, to grow. Without those conditions, productivity may drop. Hartmann predicted a lighter crop than usual.
The productivity drop goes beyond peaches. Experts say blackberry and blueberry crops, which depend on similar winter conditions, are also damaged.
Local markets are affected. Finca Tres Robles has a few shelves with local produce. Tommy Garcia-Prats remarked, “The only thing we've really had berry-wise is strawberries this year.
Garcia-Prats said the farm obtains produce from local producers, but limited harvests have curtailed supply. Peach and blackberry bins are partially empty this season. We’re farmers; we know the reality of managing the changing and shifting climate and extreme weather,” he remarked.
Despite the diminished local supply, experts don't expect price increases because fruit from other states may fill the gap.
Growers expect winter weather to shape next season. Cold weather and no late frosts could restore normal output. “We hope to have a full crop next year,” Hartmann said.
Texas-grown fruit may be scarcer as the region responds to shifting weather. This was first reported by KHOU11.
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