mi-press-releases News Release NR-09-54 July 10, 2009 U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Michigan Field Office Michigan Department of Agriculture Post Office Box 26248 Lansing, MI 48909-6248 Phone: (517) 324-5300 Facsimile: (517) 324-5299 E-mail: nass-mi@nass.usda.gov Web site: www.nass.usda.gov David D. Kleweno, Director Michigan Peach Forecast As of July 1, 2009, Michigan's peach crop is forecast at 20,000 tons, up 43 percent from 2008, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Fresh market peach production is forecast at 12,000 tons, compared to last year's utilized production of 8,400 tons. Processing production is forecast at 8,000 tons, compared to last year's 5,300 utilized for processing. Michigan's fresh and processing peach crop has the potential for a very strong production year. Except for the eastern part of the state, many growers expect a full crop. Fruit set was excellent. The U.S. peach production forecast is 1.07 million tons, down 5 percent from both the 2008 and 2007 crop. Eleven of the 23 Freestone peach estimating States expect increases in production from last year, while nine States decreased their production from the previous season, and three States showed no change. Freestone production, at 631,040 tons, is down 11 percent from last season. The California Clingstone crop is forecast at 440,000 tons, unchanged from the June 1 forecast but 3 percent above the 2008 crop. The California Freestone crop is forecast at 350,000 tons, down 5 percent from the June 1 forecast and 19 percent below the 2008 crop. The South Carolina peach crop, at 60,000 tons, is down 8 percent from the June 1 forecast but unchanged from 2008. Georgia's peach crop is forecast at 35,000 tons, up 9 percent from the June 1 forecast and 25 percent above 2008. Pennsylvania peach growers anticipate harvesting 25,300 tons this season, a 19 percent increase from a year ago.