Western North Carolina's apple crop damaged by recent freeze, agriculture officials say

Andrew Rogers

HENDERSONVILLE, North Carolina , April 13, 2012 (Associated Press) – Agriculture officials say this week's cold snap has damaged the apple crop in the western North Carolina mountains.

County extension agent Marvin Owens says he saw damage Thursday, and more cold weather occurred Friday morning.

A freeze watch was in effect in western North Carolina for Friday morning, Temperatures hovered around the freezing mark or just below freezing at 6 a.m.
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Owings says it will take a few days to determine how much damage has occurred.

He says temperatures below 29 degrees can damage the crops.

.Apple trees had bloomed about two weeks early because of the mild winter.

Henderson County grower Kenny Barnwell said frost had ravaged his 10 acres of peach trees, and his apple crop also was affected.

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/04/13/2771963/cold-damages-apples-in-western.html#storylink=cpy

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