Early reports on blueberries in North Carolina indicate that farmers there are expecting good yields of berries in spite of cold weather and frost in the first quarter of 2018, according to a report published this week by Southeast Farm Press here. North Carolina is the 6th largest producer of blueberries in the US.
The Packer reported that other crops such as peaches are also doing well. Until recently, humidity has been low and that has reduced disease pressure. You can read more here.
By comparison, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported this week that Georgia’s blueberries have taken another significant hit, with a potential loss of 60% of yield this year compared to 80% losses last year from the late frost. Unlike last year, when losses were attributed to a single freeze event, multiple problems with the weather this year contributed to the decline, including a record-setting warm February which caused early blooms, followed by a cold and windy March and April, which hindered pollination and caused some additional frost damage. You can read more at https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/05/16/hard-pill-to-swallow-georgia-blueberry-crop-sees.html.
