<p>As the Georgia Peach harvest approaches, all the elements to a potentially great season are falling in line. The cold winter has done wonders for growth as each peach variety grown in Georgia requires a certain amount of hours under 40 degrees. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“We call this the 'cold hours' and needless to say, our cold winter has satisfied all of the chilling requirements for each variety. They were well-chilled during dormancy and should come out with vigor,” Will McGehee of the Georgia Peach Council, tells AndNowUKnow.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“Our peaches are now in full bloom and the bloom set looks fantastic,” he notes.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Georgia’s next big hurdle is getting through upcoming 4 weeks without a frost event. Georgia experienced very cold weather last Thursday evening into early Friday morning but the blooms handled it well and the orchards survived a scare. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“The extended forecast looks great,” McGehee, tells us. This season the Georgia peach program will be focused on flavor and everything its retail partners can do to maximize the fruit's intense sweetness. The full crop volume in Georgia is expected to be around 2.2 million cartons for 2014. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In terms of timing, the crop appears to be on schedule, though it may be a little too early to tell for sure, McGehee notes. But, the group is confident that they will begin harvesting Georgia peaches around May 15th through the May 18th. Knock on wood!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we ramp up for the Georgia Peach season.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
