Local News - September 2003

Lincoln apple crop damaged by hail storms

‘Pecks’ on apples won’t affect taste

By SARAH GRANO, Staff Writer

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Hail storms hit Lincoln County hard last spring, and the damage they caused could affect the Apple Festival.

Lincoln farmers now have permission to sell outside apples at the festival.

“I’m sure farmers are going to bring local apples to the extent that they can,” said Kevin Starr, the County Extension Director.

“They do have the festival’s permission to buy outside apples because of the extraordinary situation.”

The apples that survived the initial damage have scars on them called hail pecks.

The scars make it harder for farmers to sell them as a fresh market apple.

“It hurt the looks of them for sure,” said Allan Davis of Davis and Son Orchard.

“It didn’t make them inedible. They still have a good taste to them, but they’re not a pretty apple.”

Davis and Sons Orchard was hit with three hail storms during the spring.

They plan to expand their cider operation as a result.

“We’re going to have plenty of cider apples this year,” Davis said.

“We’ll hopefully make plenty of cider and sell our apples in jugs this year.”

Although many farmers have crop insurance, the hail damage still hurts them financially.

The insurance does help protect the farmers, but they would much rather have a crop, said Starr.

“Even if we do collect insurance, all the insurance does is get back the cost of growing these apples,” Davis said.

“We try to get through. The insurance will just help pay for the spray material and labor costs, but it won’t be what we would have made in a year.”

Davis and Son Orchard does not plan to buy outside apples to sell at the apple festival.

Some farmers are just planning on buying a particular variety of apple from another area, said Starr.

The majority of apples sold at the festival will be from Lincoln County, but they won’t all be perfect.

“The growers are going to do the very best they can to put out the very best product, but don’t be unrealistic in expectations of perfection,” Starr said.

“We ask that consumers be understanding of what the situation was and still support our local growers because they’re still going to have plenty of apples to sell.”

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Staff Writer Sarah Grano can be reached at 704-735-3031 or sgrano@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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