New Jersey peach farmers are preparing for a harvest season with pandemic protocols protecting farm workers.
“Growing peaches is a labor-intensive process,” Santo John Maccherone, owner of Circle M Farms near Salem, N.J., said in a news release. “We strive to grow the very best peaches without cutting corners on the process of food safety and a safe environment for our workers.”
Maccherone expects a good peach crop with a few gaps in harvest due to low temperatures during flower bloom. Circle M will offer white- and yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines, plums, flat “donut” peaches, peach cider and salsa.
Duffield Farms anticipates a normal harvest season, beginning harvesting its peaches in early July.
“We have enough fruit in some blocks to warrant heavy thinning to not only reduce crop load but to also improve size and quality,” Matt Duffield, of Duffield Farms, said in the release.
Duffield Farms will carry white- and yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines.
Sunny Valley International, Glassboro, expects to have respectable volumes of peach and nectarine crop to market this season.
“We foresee growers working very closely with state and local officials following protocols and protecting all workers,” Bonnie Lundblad, of Sunny Valley, said in the release.
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