Conn. apple crop down 15 percent

MIDDLEFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Folks picking apples at Lyman Orchards think the crop is pretty good this year, even though production is low.

"We're coming in here and these bags are full and the apples are big and we're having a great day," Mike Myers, of Norwalk, said.

But actually, apple production is down as much as 15 percent.

"Yeah, the crop is down a little bit. Some of our low areas definitely had an impact, but for the most part, we're about 10-15 percent off a normal crop," said John Lyman, of Lyman Orchards.

Lyman Orchards told News 8 they have to go back to when the branches were covered with blossoms to find out the reason why. The mild winter and early spring brought out the blossoms 2 to 4 weeks early.

"But the danger you have with that situation is frost that usually occurs in April," Lyman said.

Lyman Orchard had a frost that killed off the 10-15 percent, but that same weather pattern devastated other areas.

Connecticut apple growers were lucky compared to other states. In New York, they lost 50%. In North Carolina, 70% and in Michigan they lost 80% of the crop, leaving them with just 20% what they normally have, and the difference all came down to just a few degrees.

"And I think it was a degree or two difference and we fortunately didn't have it as cold as some of the guys, so we did set a crop," Lyman said.

Most customers don't even notice the loss, and even though the weather wasn't good for apples, Lyman told News 8 the beautiful spring blossoms did make for a bumper crop of peaches.