New Jersey peach growers are still assessing damage from last month's freeze, but the news is more encouraging than initially feared. Alstede Farms reports finding more and more fruit on their trees each day, suggesting that at least some of the crop survived the event that prompted a statewide farm emergency declaration.
New Jersey is a meaningful East Coast peach supplier, and with Texas and other peach-growing states already dealing with their own crop challenges this season, any additional domestic supply is welcome. The freeze hit both peaches and apples, so the full picture of losses won't be clear until crops develop further.
Growerss and buyers in the Northeast should continue monitoring assessments as they come in. Given the supply pressure already hitting tree fruit categories this season, even a partial NJ peach crop could help stabilize local pricing.