Impending Cold Snap, Freeze Risk May Threaten State’s Strawberry Crop, Fruit Trees
NASHVILLE - Tennessee’s highly anticipated strawberry crop has survived a roller coaster weather ride until now, but low temperatures, wind chill and moisture has area strawberry growers working overtime to protect the valuable berries. Generally, this year’s crop has been on schedule to be ready for first picking around the first of May.
Other fruit-bearing trees may also be affected by a hard freeze. A little frost can actually be a good thing, naturally weeding out enough blooms that the remaining blossoms can produce bigger, better fruits, but depending on how much the warm, sunny days of the past week have prompted tender shoots and buds to expose themselves to the elements, it could also spell disaster.
Contact Dr. David Lockwood, UT Institute of Agriculture, (865) 414-2412, for details about how particular crops, from strawberries to grapes and fruit trees, may be affected by approaching weather conditions. Additional contacts are available through Patricia McDaniels, UT Institute of Agriculture Marketing and Communications, (615) 835-4570.
Contact Tennessee Department of Agriculture specialist Pamela Bartholomew at 615-517-9743 for more information or visit www.picktnproducts.org.
The following Tennessee strawberry and fruit crop growers have been contacted to be ready for media calls and farm visits to see how farmers prepare for such potential frost damage events:
West Tennessee
Moore Farms Strawberries
Ben Moore family
270 Watts Rd.
Dresden, TN 38225
Cell - (731) 431-2022
Home – (731) 364-5510
Green Acres Farm (strawberries)
Denton Clay Parkins
158 Medina Highway
Milan, TN 38358 (Gibson County)
Phone: (731) 686-1403
E-mail: greenacresfarmmilantn@gmail.com
Web: http://www.greenacresfarmmilantn.com
Middle Tennessee
Batey Farms (strawberries)
Brandon Whitt, Manager
3250 Medical Center Parkway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Phone: (615) 848-4178 (615) 890-1608
Web: http://bateyfarms.com
Bradley Kountry Acres & Greenhouse (strawberries, fruit trees, greenhouses)
Mike & Cathy Bradley
650 Jake Link Rd
Cottontown, TN 37048 (Sumner County)
Phone: (615) 325-2836 OR (615) 335 -9310
E-mail: cathy@bradleykountryacres.com
Web: http://www.bradleykountryacres.com
Shade Tree Farm (apple orchard, berries)
Tom Head, Farm Manager & Grower
2087 Kinneys Road
Adams, TN 37010 (Robertson County)
Phone: (615) 696-2915
Fax: (615) 696-2915
E-mail: trhead@aol.com
Web: http://www.head2thefarm.com
East Tennessee
Fruit and Berry Patch (variety of berries, fruit trees)
J. Dennis Fox
Owner
4407 McCloud Road
Knoxville, TN 37938 (Knox County)
Phone: (865) 922-3779 (865) 385-8654 or (865) 92-b-e-r-r-y
E-mail: dennisfox@tds.net
Web: http://www.fruitandberrypatch.com
Buffalo Trail Orchard
Phillip Ottinger (orchard, berries)
1890 Dodd Branch Road
Greeneville, TN 37743 (Greene County)
Phone: (423) 639-2297
E-mail: buffalotrailorchard@gmail.com
Web: http://www.buffalotrailorchard.com
Black Oak Farms (strawberries, peach trees)
David & Janet Cantrell, Owners
7235 Corryton Road
Corryton, TN 37721 (Knox County)
Phone: (865) 687-6900
E-mail: brotherdave01@aol.com
Web: http://blackoakfarmstn.com