Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Georgia's beloved peach season is still coming — but this year, it's going to look a little different. Reporting from Gregg Farms in Pike County, John Holcomb sits down with Stuart Gregg to find out how a warmer winter followed by a late frost has reshaped expectations for the 2025 peach season.
The trouble started with a warming trend that caused peach trees to bloom earlier than normal. Then, just a week before Easter, a late frost moved through — hitting trees that were already in full bloom and wiping out a significant portion of the early crop. Gregg estimates roughly 50% of the peaches sustained damage, with early varieties taking the hardest hit. The good news? Later varieties that hadn't fully bloomed yet were largely spared, meaning there will still be peaches this summer — just a shorter, more limited season than growers and customers are used to.
Gregg also breaks down the science behind it, explaining that peach trees need more than a thousand chill hours below 40 degrees while dormant — and once they bloom, they become highly vulnerable to cold snaps. This year's warmer winter pushed that chill hour window later, ultimately setting the stage for frost damage at the worst possible time.
On top of the frost, dry conditions and skyrocketing input costs — fuel, fertilizer, and supplies — are stretching every dollar further and adding pressure to an already difficult season. With no irrigation on their peach trees, Gregg says they're largely at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Despite the challenges, Gregg Farms plans to open for the season, though pick-your-own availability may be limited. Come out when you can — there will be peaches, just not a bumper crop.
🌾 Subscribe for weekly Georgia agriculture news and farm stories — only on The Farm Monitor.
Georgia's beloved peach season is still coming — but this year, it's going to look a little different. Reporting from Gregg Farms in Pike County, John Holcomb sits down with Stuart Gregg to find out how a warmer winter followed by a late frost has reshaped expectations for the 2025 peach season.
The trouble started with a warming trend that caused peach trees to bloom earlier than normal. Then, just a week before Easter, a late frost moved through — hitting trees that were already in full bloom and wiping out a significant portion of the early crop. Gregg estimates roughly 50% of the peaches sustained damage, with early varieties taking the hardest hit. The good news? Later varieties that hadn't fully bloomed yet were largely spared, meaning there will still be peaches this summer — just a shorter, more limited season than growers and customers are used to.
Gregg also breaks down the science behind it, explaining that peach trees need more than a thousand chill hours below 40 degrees while dormant — and once they bloom, they become highly vulnerable to cold snaps. This year's warmer winter pushed that chill hour window later, ultimately setting the stage for frost damage at the worst possible time.
On top of the frost, dry conditions and skyrocketing input costs — fuel, fertilizer, and supplies — are stretching every dollar further and adding pressure to an already difficult season. With no irrigation on their peach trees, Gregg says they're largely at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Despite the challenges, Gregg Farms plans to open for the season, though pick-your-own availability may be limited. Come out when you can — there will be peaches, just not a bumper crop.
🌾 Subscribe for weekly Georgia agriculture news and farm stories — only on The Farm Monitor.
