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Apple orchards in the Ozarks feel sting from spring freeze
United States
Thursday 15 November 2007
Buying apples at grocery stores is costing more money this year than last year at this time. The spring weather is to blame.
Farmers say they - and their customers - are paying about US$4 extra to take home a bushel of apples this fall, all because of the spring freeze in early April, around Easter. The same freeze that wiped out the peach crop took care of a large portion of the apple crop, so growers like David Murphy have had to travel to other states to get a product to sell.
The travel, the import of goods, and the inability to grow his own crop has contributed to the added cost -- and to an early closing date for business. At Murphy's Orchard, the crop is so significantly smaller that the business has only employed about half its standard workforce. Usually 15 people are working on and around the orchard, whereas only six are working this year.
Farmers say they - and their customers - are paying about US$4 extra to take home a bushel of apples this fall, all because of the spring freeze in early April, around Easter. The same freeze that wiped out the peach crop took care of a large portion of the apple crop, so growers like David Murphy have had to travel to other states to get a product to sell.
The travel, the import of goods, and the inability to grow his own crop has contributed to the added cost -- and to an early closing date for business. At Murphy's Orchard, the crop is so significantly smaller that the business has only employed about half its standard workforce. Usually 15 people are working on and around the orchard, whereas only six are working this year.
