COPLAY, Pa. – A Lehigh County farm would typically be getting ready for a busy summer season, but due to a late spring freeze, it won’t be able to open this summer or fall.
Meticulously maintained trees line acres of farmland at Gogle Farms, where farming is a family business.
This time of year, the Gogle family would be getting ready for cherry and peach season. The trees would be filled with peaches.
“Normally, there would be so many hanging this time of year, we would be getting ready to thin,” said Tim Gogle.
Instead, the family is faced with a farm full of bare trees.
“We had two very cold nights after three days that were in the 80s or 90s. Pretty much that warm weather made everything come into bloom and then the cold weather froze not even just frost but froze the flowers and the little fruit that were already developing on the trees,” he said.
Typically, 700 peach trees would produce at least four half bushels; now the farmers say they are lucky if they get that same amount from the entire variety.
“I mean, you might have a variety that’s light but never nothing like this where it just took all everything right out,” said Roger Gogle.
The family says in their decades of farming, they have never seen anything like this.
The family says it isn’t just the peaches and cherries impacted. They also won’t be able to open for apple season in the fall. Despite that, they are remaining optimistic thanks to positivity from their customers.
“That’s been very nice and very uplifting to hear their support of us,” said Julia Gogle.
They have this message for them:
“Just remember about us next year and, you know, watch the website, watch the Facebook there. Maybe, you know, like I said, as a farmer, you’re always optimistic. Maybe there’ll be a variety that we’ll be able to do something with,” said Tim.