Good weather, less competition a boon for N.J. growers

northjersey.com ^ | August 2, 2007 | KEVIN G. DeMARRAIS

[Coleus]

It's little wonder that peach growers throughout New Jersey are wearing big smiles these days.  Mother Nature has provided ideal conditions for what is shaping up as a banner year for one of the state's premier crops. Barring extreme weather in the next four to six weeks, New Jersey peach growers should approach last year's totals of 34,000 tons and $35.7 million, said Jerry Frecon, an agricultural agent specializing in fruit at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Gloucester County.

Fast facts

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•  Approximately 150 producers grow 8,000 acres of peaches in New Jersey.

•  In 2006, New Jersey produced 34,000 tons of peaches at a value of $35.7 million, 16 percent higher than in 2005.

•  Fresh New Jersey peaches are available from early July through late September.

•  New Jersey growers sell 98 percent of their crop as fresh fruit within 250 miles of the orchards.

•  Truckload quantities come from growers in five southern counties – Gloucester, Camden, Atlantic, Cumberland and Salem – but smaller growers are located throughout the state. Most grow and distribute peaches through roadside stands and farmers' markets.

Source: New Jersey Peach Promotion Council

Because of some early-season frost, yields will be down slightly this year. But the seasonable weather has produced sweeter fruit, with about 2 percent higher sugar content than in 2006, Frecon said. "We have a lot of good-tasting fruit."  The strong season provides a welcome boost to an industry that was struggling to compete with out-of-state growers a few years back. As much as 98 percent of New Jersey-grown peaches are sold as fresh fruit within 250 miles of the orchards, agricultural officials say. "They're fabulous, they're beautiful," said Marsha Demarest, whose family owns the peach-filled Demarest Farm in Hillsdale. "Their cheeks are like a bride's blush."

The bright red and yellow colors provide eye appeal, but the real test is in the taste, and that's where this year's crop stands out, said Ed Gaventa, owner of a 100-acre farm in Gloucester County and chairman of the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council. "As far as flavor is concerned, it's probably the top year in the past five to 10 years," he said. "We've had ideal conditions, with hot and dry weather and adequate rainfall. Every so often the pieces fall into place." While optimum conditions have benefited New Jersey's 150 peach growers, early season storms wiped out as much as 90 percent of the South Carolina crop and 50 percent of the Georgia crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service reports.

Those shortages have been a key factor -- along with higher labor and fuel prices -- for an increase in wholesale prices, so the crop is unlikely to result in lower retail prices. Farmers are getting about $12 for a standard 25-pound box, which is about $2 more than last year, Gaventa said. Over the past 16 years, prices have ranged from $2 to $22 a box, with the average price in the $10 to $13 range. Retail prices for New Jersey-grown peaches have been as low as 79 cents a pound this summer, but 99 cents to $1.49 is more common. At the Demarest Farm, quart containers -- 2-plus pounds each -- are selling for $3.99, about 35 cents higher than a year ago, with 2-quart boxes going for $5.99.

In selecting peaches, ripeness should be the first concern, with strong colors, fragrance and firmness also critical, Frecon said. Most of the "Jersey Fresh" peaches sold at supermarkets come from South Jersey, where they compete with California-grown fruit. But farms throughout the state contribute to what is sold at farm stands and farmers' markets.  New Jersey lost about 40 percent of its peach acreage over the past 25 years, much of it to development, and the survivors had a tough time competing against out-of-state growers, Gaventa said.

"From 1999 to 2003, we struggled," he said. "Prices were plunging and there were too many peaches around. California continued to plant trees and New Jersey remained fairly constant in our production." Since then, planting outside the state has slowed and New Jersey growers have taken steps to improve the quality of fruit that made it to market, he said. To get product in the stores, some growers were delivering immature fruit the "just didn't have the flavor," he said. By concentrating on market timing, they are able to wait until the fruit is at full flavor. Fruit picked this afternoon will be cooled overnight, shipped to packing houses by tomorrow afternoon and on supermarket shelves the next day, going from tree to store in 24 to 36 hours, Gaventa said. On farm stands, such as Demarest, the delay is even less. "We managed to change consumers' opinions," he said.

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The top five states in the value of their peach crop and in production last year
State	Value (rank)	Production (rank)
California	$270,408,000 (1)	712,000 tons (1)
South Carolina	$37,474,000 (2)	50,000 tons (2)
New Jersey	$35,700,000 (3)	34,000 tons (4)
Georgia	$33,020,000 (4)	37,000 tons (3)
Pennsylvania	$19,529,000 (5)	21,300 tons (6)
Source: United States Department of Agriculture