Moran quoted in Press Herald story on Maine’s bumper peach crop

The Portland Press Herald quoted Renae Moran, associate professor of pomology in the School of Food and Agriculture, in a story about this year’s highly successful peach crop. According to the article, peaches are difficult to grow in Maine and the crops for the past few years have been particularly unproductive. However, this year many growers are struggling to keep up with the peaches on their trees. Moran said it was the cold temperatures in January and February which helped this year’s crop. “It was a good winter for peaches because we didn’t have a week of temperatures in the 70s,” said Moran. “That’s what undoes peaches. It tells them that springtime is here, and they start growing too soon. Then we get another deep freeze and it kills the flower buds.”