Area fruit growers are re-evaluating business and how to survive
the next big freeze after apple, peach and cherry crops were
wiped out during a deep freeze in April. Farmers are
diversifying their business, contemplating buying expensive
technology or using water to guard against the next crop-killing
frost. About 95 per cent of apple, peach and cherry crops were
destroyed in northeastern North America after a record-breaking
warm March encouraged blossom growth that was snuffed out during
an April 29 frost of -4C. While that’s only the second time in
50 years those conditions have occurred, it doesn’t mean it
won’t happen again, said Dave Phillips, senior climatologist
with Environment Canada. “It’s a rare event and doesn’t
necessarily mean we’ll see it again but the fact that it
occurred means it can happen again,” Phillips said. “When we
talk about climate change a lot of people are under the
impression we’ll be Miami North. That’s not true. We’ll have
frost and snow but winter will be shorter. We might s