The cool weather this spring has put Middle Georgia's peach crop a week behind schedule. <br>
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But growers who began the 12-week harvesting period yesterday are convinced 2002's crop will at least equal the amount and quality of the estimated 140 million pounds harvested last year. <br>
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Peach trees need between 600 and a 1,000 chill hours (temperatures below 45 degrees) or they will not produce enough leaves for healthy development. <br>
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Al Pearson, managing partner at Fort Valley-based Big Six Farm, said he lost some peaches to the frost but not enough to make a big difference. <br>
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Big Six grows peaches on about 1,500 acres in Crawford, Macon and Peach counties. <br>
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Middle Georgia accounts for more than 90 percent of the state's commercial peach production, with Crawford, Houston, Macon, Peach, Talbot and Taylor counties accounting for most of that.
