Earlier this Spring colder than normal temperatures threatened to cause trouble for farmers.
Now, inflation is an even larger concern.
Dylan Huberman has this story from Centre County.
While the colder weather didn’t cause anything more than a headache for some farmers, inflation threatens to do some real damage.
Way Fruit Farm Co-Owner Jason Coopey says the freezing temperatures back in April caused a little damage to his crops.
“Some of my peach varieties don’t have as many peaches as other varieties, you know, little things like that. Some of the weirder varieties of apples I grow maybe aren’t as full.”
But with Strawberries and other fruits now in season, he sees inflation as a larger threat.
“Every time we order something, you know, when the diesel tank gets filled up, when I get fertilizer, it’s just, you can tell it’s markably higher.”
And there’s not much farmers can do to cut back on necessary maintenance costs.
“At the end of the day, we’re very limited in how many options we can have to actually cope with it. A lot of it is just…as long as Mother Nature cooperates, and we have a full crop, it’s okay.”
And may have catastrophic consequences.
“This is going to put…a lot of farmers out of business, and I think that’s where it’s going to get scary for a lot of people where we might not have all the food.
However he feels that summer events, such as their annual Art In The Orchard, give them a chance to counter that financial burden.
“Maybe that vacation you thought about taking is no longer feasible at $6 gasoline. You know, the hotels are expensive, so we’re actually planning on doing just as many things, if not even more because I think people are going to be looking for that entertainment closer to home this year.”
Coopey hopes his upcoming crop seasons are just as fruitful as the current Strawberry season.
