Temperatures dipped dangerously close to 25 degrees on April 19th-20th, but thanks to a prolonged winter keeping the trees a couple of weeks behind schedule, most of Colorado’s peach crop looks to have survived relatively unscathed.
Most growers in Colorado’s Palisade peach region have a positive outlook for the 2023 summer crop.
Growers from around Colorado’s Palisade peach region including Mesa County (including areas near De Beque Canyon, Palisade, Grand Junction, Fruita, Orchard Mesa, etc.) and Delta County (including Roger’s Mesa, Hotchkiss and Paonia) are reporting most of their orchard blocks look to be in good shape.
While some orchard blocks in Mesa County did take damage, we’re being told that most are expected to produce a normal crop. Most orchards we spoke to in Delta County escaped any significant damage, due to being a week or two behind Mesa County when it comes to peach blossoms opening -a time when they’re most susceptible to damage from freezing temperatures.
It’s looking like we’ll have at least a normal Palisade peach crop this year, although availability might be a little tight.
While Colorado so far has escaped frost damage this year, some of the nation’s major peach producers like Georgia and South Carolina weren’t as lucky. As a result, peaches are expected to be in high demand nationally, which mean more Colorado peaches will likely find their way out of state to help fill the gaps.
The Colorado Peach Blog 