Columbia, SC (WLTX) - South Carolina's peach crop is expected to rebound this season after a couple of tough years.
A late hard freeze in 2017 caused South Carolina to lose 85 to 90 percent of its peach crop. This year another late freeze had peach producers nervous, but now they are more optimistic. The peach crop is looking good for the 2018 season.
"It's good to have a crop again. We have struggled in recent years with weather issues, so we are excited to have a good strong crop. Particularly, once we get into the third or fourth week in June running in through July, we should have excellent peaches," said Martin Eubanks.
Eubanks is the assistant commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. He said peaches play an important part of agribusiness for the state.
According to Eubanks, "It's a $75-90 million dollar crop (peaches), depending on the season. Just from that perspective, what they bring into the local economy, the people they bring in to work, it has a huge impact on the state's economy and our agro economy."
South Carolina is the second highest peach producing state only behind California, but it is not just peaches doing well in the Palmetto State.
Eubanks said, "Right now we are still harvesting strawberries. We have begun harvesting blueberries. Our watermelon crops are growing well. Cantaloupes are doing well."
Even though it looks like a great year for crops in the state, Eubanks says things can always change.
He said, "Thunderstorms are always an issue, hail potential, things of that nature. You never know. There are things you can't control. Our growers are just out there just doing what they do best."
Agribusiness remains South Carolina's largest industry. It makes an economic impact of $42 billion yearly to South Carolina.