Winter's Effects on Local Farms: Good? Bad?
By:
DULUTH- If you're hoping to score plenty of fresh fruit this spring, you might be worried about how these bitter cold temperature swings could be impacting your future healthy eating habits.
Local farmers say there have been pros and cons to the recent arctic blasts, and for now, they're staying optimistic.
Fortunately, wind chills aren't a big threat for the juicy fruits, but cold temperatures below 40 degrees could cause bud or twig damage.
On the other hand, the mounds of snow are actually helping out.
It's being used as insulation to protect the soil and roots.
Clover Valley Farms owner Cindy Hale says, "The snow cover was a huge plus, when that cold weather came early in the season, I was flippin' out because I need snow cover to protect my animals and my plants."
At Clover Valley Farms up the shore, their new daily routine is to snowshoe around the fruit trees to pack down the snow, so the critters can't dig down to the stems and roots.
A quick thaw and refreeze could leave fruits less tasty this spring.
Farmers hope for a slow, gradual end to winter, leading us to an eventual thaw and delicious fruit.