This year's cooler, wetter weather is much different than what farmers were dealing with last year.
At this time last year, Rendleman Orchards Vice President Wayne Sirles was worried about a lack of rain and intense heat. This year, he says, is just the opposite:
"We've pretty much had the right about of rain, at about the right amount of timing. And as far as comparing it to last year, we're almost at the other end of the continuum. This time last year, we were extremely hot and dry."
Sirles says cooler temperatures will mean crops may be a bit late in coming in this year - right now they're running a week to ten days behind the average - but he says peaches, apples and other fruits and vegetables are faring better this year than last.
More moisture means a better product, as well. Sirles says last year's lack of water caused some crops to die, but this year everything appears to be doing well.
"We tend to have very good quality, because it doesn't have that very extreme day temperature where the actual plants are trying fight to survive the water loss."
But last year's dry conditions are not forgotten, and Sirles says they've not yet completely recovered from the drought. He says while some areas may be dealing with flooding, the amount of moisture deep in the ground is still low.
"We were really dry. Just by noticing how our soils are working, and noticing how much activity we can perform out in the fields after we have a rain, I still think that we're not where we were two years ago in soil moisture. I think that we're still replenishing soil moisture."
Still, Sirles expects a good crop this year. He says peaches are just starting to come in, and while everything may be a week or so later than average, customers should be able to get their fill of local fruits and vegetables thanks to a much different weather pattern.
