Weather Disasters Lead to Short Peach Supplies

Consumers are paying higher prices for peaches this year due to the shorter supply. The U.S. Southeast has suffered devastating losses from several weather events. A March freeze impacted countless peach acres during the growing season, as harvest usually begins in May. A hike in peach prices drove costs from an average of $1.54 last year to $1.70 this year.

In 2021, nearly 40,000 grocery stores promoted average peach prices of $1.16. Georgia suffered hotter-than-normal temperatures after the March freeze, creating a “worst-case scenario” for the Peach State. George peach growers may only have 5% to 10% of a crop, with many H-2A workers being sent home for lack of work. South Carolina may have more volume than Georgia this year but likely won’t be finished until August.

Read more on peach production here.