Crop in Hill Country is looking just peachy

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7037587.html

Crop in Hill Country is looking just peachy
By WILLIAM PACK San Antonio Express-News

The Hill Country peach season is in full bloom, and for the first time in years, even growers are licking their lips with anticipation.

“It's the best crop we've had since at least 2004,” said Jamey Vogel, co-owner of Vogel Orchard near Stonewall. “I don't think the crop could be any better than it is.”

Some Hill Country growers have been picking peaches and other fruit for weeks, filling roadside stands with peaches considered among the tastiest in the state. The heaviest sales season runs through July, but late- blooming varieties could keep peaches in stands through September, growers said.

Last year and in 2006, late freezes and other weather extremes knocked out almost all the area's peaches. The two intervening years saw improvement but fell well short of full production.

This year, the drought ended, winter chilling temperatures reached the right levels and even random weather emergencies, like this week's blustery thunderstorms, didn't inflict much damage.

Jim Kamas, a Texas Agri-Life Extension Service fruit specialist in Fredericksburg, called growing conditions ideal. Peach quality and quantity have soared, he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Texas' peach production was the 15th highest in the nation last year. The value of that production reached $7.2 million.

Armin Engel with Engel Orchard about four miles west of Stonewall, believes his peach crop could hit 100 percent of capacity this year, his first strong crop in at least four years.

“It's about time,” he said.

Growers said prices have been good but vary depending on fruit size and quality. Engel said he has seen half-bushel boxes go for as low as $18 and as high as $35.

“I think people will be pleased,” said Dianne Eckhardt with Donald Eckhardt Orchard near Fredericksburg.