Mid-April temperatures hit record lows in Washington state
Mid-April temperatures hit record lows in Washington state
A mid-April freeze in the Yakima and Chelan growing regions of Washington state prompted many growers to utilize smudge pots for heat and crank up their propane or gas-powered wind machines to blow warm air across their in-bloom fruit trees.
However, while overnight temperatures reached a record low of 20 degrees in the Yakima area, only minimal damage has been assessed.
On Monday, April 18, the Washington Agricultural Statistics Services in Olympia reported that Yakima County had experienced average temperatures throughout the previous week, ranging from nine degrees below normal to three degrees above normal. According to figures posted by the National Weather Service, Yakima's average April daytime temperature is in the 60s, and nighttime lows are generally in the mid- to upper 30s.
The low of 20, recorded at the Yakima Air Terminal on April 13, beats the previous record low of 22, which was set in 1972.
The Chelan region saw temperatures drop low enough to cause frost concern, but the thermometer didn't register a record to beat the 30-degree low set in 1979. Growers in both regions told The Produce News that damage was light in most cases.
Chuck Sinks, president of Yakima-based Sage Fruit Co., said that his operation was "fortunate enough to have come through this freeze without any damage. He added, "While it is still very early in the growing season, if Mother Nature cooperates, we have full confidence that we will have a very good cherry season.
Pink Lady America Marketing Director Alan Taylor, who also works for E.W. Brandt in the Wapato area south of Yakima, said that he'd heard of growers in the Roza irrigation district, which has also been affected by water shortages, using overhead sprinklers for frost protection.
"What a strange year, Mr. Taylor remarked. "Spring came in February, and winter returned in April. Eric Patrick, marketing director for Domex, said that damage depended on location and steps taken by growers to mitigate such temperature drops.
"Those who rely only on wind machines got more damage, he said. Domex saw nothing significant in crop losses, and as usually happens, a handful of growers were affected. We were not, and we're still planning for very marketable-sized crops.
Also in the Yakima region, Rainier Fruit Co. Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter said that there was "no disconcerting damage to report from the dipping mercury."
From his Wenatchee office, Stemilt Fruit Growers Marketing Director Roger Pepperl said that his company had seen light losses in different growing areas.
Mr. Pepperl said that such losses are normal in any given year, and that it was too early to tell how the overall Washington fruit industry will be affected. "It looks like the Yakima high-elevation areas were affected the worst, he said. "We are light in acreage in those areas.
Bob Mast, marketing director for Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, said that CMI had seen "very minimal damage to crops thus far." He added, "There has been a definite need for frost protective actions, which CMI has taken. Those who have not taken protective measures may have received significant damage.
However, while overnight temperatures reached a record low of 20 degrees in the Yakima area, only minimal damage has been assessed.
On Monday, April 18, the Washington Agricultural Statistics Services in Olympia reported that Yakima County had experienced average temperatures throughout the previous week, ranging from nine degrees below normal to three degrees above normal. According to figures posted by the National Weather Service, Yakima's average April daytime temperature is in the 60s, and nighttime lows are generally in the mid- to upper 30s.
The low of 20, recorded at the Yakima Air Terminal on April 13, beats the previous record low of 22, which was set in 1972.
The Chelan region saw temperatures drop low enough to cause frost concern, but the thermometer didn't register a record to beat the 30-degree low set in 1979. Growers in both regions told The Produce News that damage was light in most cases.
Chuck Sinks, president of Yakima-based Sage Fruit Co., said that his operation was "fortunate enough to have come through this freeze without any damage. He added, "While it is still very early in the growing season, if Mother Nature cooperates, we have full confidence that we will have a very good cherry season.
Pink Lady America Marketing Director Alan Taylor, who also works for E.W. Brandt in the Wapato area south of Yakima, said that he'd heard of growers in the Roza irrigation district, which has also been affected by water shortages, using overhead sprinklers for frost protection.
"What a strange year, Mr. Taylor remarked. "Spring came in February, and winter returned in April. Eric Patrick, marketing director for Domex, said that damage depended on location and steps taken by growers to mitigate such temperature drops.
"Those who rely only on wind machines got more damage, he said. Domex saw nothing significant in crop losses, and as usually happens, a handful of growers were affected. We were not, and we're still planning for very marketable-sized crops.
Also in the Yakima region, Rainier Fruit Co. Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter said that there was "no disconcerting damage to report from the dipping mercury."
From his Wenatchee office, Stemilt Fruit Growers Marketing Director Roger Pepperl said that his company had seen light losses in different growing areas.
Mr. Pepperl said that such losses are normal in any given year, and that it was too early to tell how the overall Washington fruit industry will be affected. "It looks like the Yakima high-elevation areas were affected the worst, he said. "We are light in acreage in those areas.
Bob Mast, marketing director for Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, said that CMI had seen "very minimal damage to crops thus far." He added, "There has been a definite need for frost protective actions, which CMI has taken. Those who have not taken protective measures may have received significant damage.
