Governor Haley & Commissioner Weathers to Tour Peach Orchard Damaged in Late March Freeze
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contact: Kelly Coakley, 803‐734‐2196, kcoakley@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 2, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Nikki Haley will join Commissioner Hugh Weathers Monday, May 5 for a peach orchard tour to see the damage peach growers suffered after a late March freeze. Growers in some parts of the state experienced significant damage to their early variety peach crops, delaying the start of the peach season.
During the tour, Governor Haley and Commissioner Weathers will see how the freeze impacted various fields at J.W. Yonce & Sons in Johnston, SC. This area of the state is part of the Ridge, home to the majority of South Carolina’s peach acreage. The tour will also include the Yonce peach packing house and later variety fields that are progressing on schedule for late June and early July harvesting and delivery to stores and farmers markets.
Clemson University researchers will be on hand to brief the Governor and Commissioner on current research to develop peach crops that can better withstand freezing temperatures. The researchers will be available after the press conference to talk with interested media.
The orchard tour will take place before the press conference. Media are invited to take part in the tour, but must be in place by 10 a.m. The press conference will start at 10:45 a.m.
Location:
J.W. Yonce & Sons
37 Yonce Pond Road
Johnston, SC, 29382
**Please note: The location is a 30 minute drive from Aiken and about a 55 minute drive from Columbia. Parking will be available in the grassy area across the street from the J. W. Yonce & Sons office.
For more information contact SCDA’s Kelly Coakley at the contact information listed above or Bryan Symmes with the Governor’s office at 803-734-0304 or briansymmes@gov.sc.gov.