04/23/08 Frost Damage

Frost Damage. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The weather across the northwest has not been acting much like spring with temperatures below freezing in many areas. This past weekend was a difficult one for many fruit growers as Mother Nature kept the cold temps coming. While many are still accessing the damage, Gip Redman with the Oregon Cherry Growers said there is damage. REDMAN: I think there is some damage almost everywhere, Greg. And it's to the point where everybody is being a little cautious, not wanting to say too much but also not being able to tell to what extent. Dave Carlson with the Washington Apple Commission says that apples have damage in the Yakima Valley and upper valley and extreme lower valley seem the worst. The Basin also suffered some damage and it is being evaluated now. Even pears have suffered bud damage and some crop loss in many districts. Right now according to Redman, the weather is still the deciding factor. REDMAN: We need good pollinating weather. I know that there's going to be a crop and there'll be plenty of cherries to market but I also know that it isn't going to reach the potential that it once had. In some areas there are fields that are no longer being protected as a result of damage. Only time will tell what the outcome will be but if the weather warms up it still appears to be a bumper crop overall. More tomorrow. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.