After an excellent winter and early spring with mild/ cold temperatures and abundant rainfall and snow, New Jersey Peach Growers anticipate an excellent crop of peach flowers, with full bloom in early April. This bloom date would be historically earlier than normal, according to Jerry Frecon, Professor Emeritus at Rutgers Jersey in Southern New Jersey.
Santo John Maccherone, owner of Circle M Fruit Farms in Salem, and Vice Chair of the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council (NJPPC) and Joe Nichols, owner of Nichols Orchards and grower of peaches in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, NJ. Both Maccherone and Nichols expect to be shipping peaches from early July into September. Both sell wholesale to specialty markets and retailers.
Recent statistics published by the National Peach Council estimate NJ growers are producing about 5200 acres of peaches and nectarines and should harvest between 40 and 45 million pounds of fruit in 2021. “We are always optimistic at this time of year,” said Maccherone, “but we still have a long way until we pick and market the fruit, and lots can happen which would reduce the crop.”
The NJPPC is a voluntary organization of growers, packers, shippers, marketers and allied industries dedicated to the orderly marketing and promotion of New Jersey Peaches.