Normally, around late June, Livesay Orchards in Porter has some 40 different varieties of peaches ready to be sold at its farm market and retail stores. At this point in time, they have about six. Co-owner Kent Livesay puts the blame squarely on low temperatures; in particular, the abnormal frost of April 21st. Livesay said February was colder than usual, as well.
“It’s the first time we’ve had extreme cold in February since 2011,” Livesay told tulsaworld.com. “This was close to a record late freeze. … It’s very unusual and rare.”
Livesay said the Porter retail farm will be the only place they sell peaches this year. A lack of peaches also means limited hours at the farm market. They simply don’t have enough peaches to be open seven days a week as they normally would. Some weeks they are only open two days a week.
Photo source: Dreamstime.com