Posted on Saturday, May. 05, 2007

Paltry peach crop hits sellers hard

By Martha Quillin

Peaches are a delicate, demanding crop, and growers always have their ups and downs. But the weather has made this year the pits for Sugar Loaf Orchard and Farms.

For the first time in 17 years, Sugar Loaf won't have a booth at the N.C. State Farmers Market in Raleigh when it's time for peaches to roll in next month. They won't be there in July, as they ought to be, with nectarines for sale. They may not even be back for apple season.

"It's devastating. This is our livelihood," Kenneth Clayton said this week as he finished cleaning out booths 18 and 20 on farmer's row at the market, where the Taylorsville-based company has been a year-round fixture.