Despite loss from frost, fruit growers optimistic about crops


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SANTAQUIN, Utah County — Some fruit growers in Utah County are cautiously optimistic about this year’s crops.

While some growers suffered losses due to an early spring and late frost, several growers are encouraged by what they are seeing now.

“We harvested our sweet cherries. It was a lighter crop,” said fruit grower Marc Rowley. “We had some frost in our sweet cherries and some of our other fruit trees as well.”

Still, Rowley and his brother Thad Rowley are upbeat about what they are seeing in their orchards in Santaquin, especially with their tart cherries.

But it is not the case at every orchard in Utah County. Many growers are suffering losses this year due to extreme weather conditions.

In March, at Jeff Mitchell’s orchard in American Fork, his fruit trees were blooming, but he lost his apricot crop due to a hard freeze. Then the biggest crop he grows literally took a hit last month.

“We had a hail storm in the middle of May that took the apple crop,” Mitchell said. “The peach crop looks pretty good if we have enough water to make it to fall.”

Water is a concern for other growers, especially with the triple-digit heat earlier than usual.

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“We are getting some major cutbacks on our water, which we are really worried about because now is a very important time to be ballooning up our cherries,” Thad Rowley said.

On Tuesday, Utah County fruit growers gathered together for a workshop with horticulturists from the USU Extension office.

“Growers come together and share what is working, what isn't working, ask questions, network, and so it is a great industry to work with because of the cooperation that goes on,” Brent Black, fruit specialist with USU Extension.

Growing fruit can be an up and down business for these independent growers who expect they will still have plenty of fresh fruit this season. Those in the USU Extension office are glad to see the growers’ efforts will pay off.

“They work so hard to grow a great crop for Utah, and they are really proud that a lot of the fruit does stay in the state, thankfully for the consumers who like to buy local,” said Marion Murray with USU Extension.

Fruit growers will begin opening up their fruit stands in the next few weeks as they begin harvesting the fruit they do have.

“Our tart cherries look to be a really good crop,” Thad Rowley said, “and that is our No. 1 crop on our farm.”

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Sam Penrod

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