Growers say this year's crop is the biggest the region has had in the several years.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina peach growers say this year's harvest has smaller, but sweeter fruit.
The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported Monday that growers say the mild winter produced a large crop.
Some varieties of peaches are smaller than usual because of a lack of rainfall, but experts say the smaller the peach, the higher the sugar concentration.
Clemson extension agent Andy Rollins says people are getting more peaches in each bushel.
Growers say this year's crop is the biggest the region has had in the several years.
Paul Abbott of Abbott Farms says he had to thin the trees on his 60 acres so the fruit wouldn't break the trees.
Justin Ness of Sunny Slope Farms says a mild winter, smart thinning and irrigation helped the crop.
South Carolina's peach crop is valued at $40 million this year.
Information from: Herald-Journal, http://www.goupstate.com/
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
