by NJ Peach Promotion Council
Glassboro NJ — After a warmer than normal February and a cool March, New Jersey peach growers had a full bloom in mid-April and New Jersey peach shipments will be getting underway by the Fourth of July.
Leonard Grasso, owner of Angelo Grasso and Son Farms with his father Angelo, grows peaches south of Mullica Hill, in Gloucester County, NJ. “We are in good shape with all of our trees pruned, new trees planted, and anticipate a full crop of flowers,” stated Grasso. “We also grow a variety of vegetable crops, which gives us a hedge against financial loss in case we get some flower injury from lower temperatures, or other adverse weather that might reduce our peach crop. The Grassos expect to be marketing peaches from early July into September under the Top Crop label through the marketer Donio Inc in Hammonton. New Jersey.
“We continue to expand our peach and nectarine plantings and are optimistic about a full crop of peaches and nectarines,” said Lewis DeEugenio, owner of Summit City Farms and Winery near Glassboro and president of Jersey Fruit Marketing Cooperative in Glassboro. “We have a planting of the best new yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines on our new farm on Rte 538 near Monroeville, NJ, which will produce its first big crop this year. We are always looking at new ways to market our Jersey Fruit label and this year have put in a new specialty pack line at Eastern Pro Pak in Glassboro that packs for us and other growers under the Jersey Fruit Brand.”
Recent statistics published by the National Peach Council estimate that NJ growers are producing about 5500 acres of peaches and nectarines and should harvest between 55, and 60 million pounds of fruit in 2018. “We are always optimistic at this time of year,” said Maccherone.