California is the top producer of peaches and its lead over second place South Carolina third place Georgia is even greater this year. While excellent growing conditions is producing a big California crop, a March freeze means anywhere from 70 to 90 percent fewer peaches in the Southeast, depending on the area.
The California Fresh Fruit Association reports the biggest supplier of U.S. peaches is in good shape.
California tree fruit shippers also report full crops of tree fruit are seen for the remainder of the season, which includes July and August. Shipments started in June. The combination of ample water, plenty of chill hours and little stress on the trees should result in good quality and good sizing.
Meanwhile, growers in middle Georgia may have only 5% to 10% of a crop, and whatever harvesting there is will be accomplished by bagging fruit in the field rather than running their packing lines.
In 2022, Georgia’s 24,800 tons of peaches ranked a distant third in the U.S., trailing California’s 475,000 tons, and South Carolina’s 67,400 tons.
The Ridge growing area, which is the biggest peach area in South Carolina, has some growers with as little as 10% of a full crop and most have about 20% of a full crop. However, at least a couple of growers are expecting 30% or more of a full crop, in part because of the use of wind machines during a cold snap.
South Carolina will have much more volume than Georgia but much of it might not get packed. The season also has advanced two to three weeks for many mid- and late-season varieties so South Carolina will likely be finished by early August, especially in regard to packing the fruit.
New Jersey, the seventh-ranked peach state in 2022 with 7,000 tons, will have a good crop this year.
Growers have a heavy crop of peaches in about 95% of the state’s orchards.