More blueberries than peaches in Georgia fruit production, featured on WCTV and at Valdosta Farm Days.

Eames Yates wrote for WCTV 25 June 2012 Blueberries Overtake Peaches as Georgia’s Largest Fruit Crop,

The Georgia peach has been bumped from the top spot when it comes to fruit production in the state. The new leader of the pack: Blueberries, which are now the number one selling fruit crop in Georgia.

Georgia has more than 19,000 acres of blueberries. And about 12,000 acres of peaches. The Mallory’s operate a blueberry farm in Valdosta. So far this year they’ve sold about 1,200 gallons of blueberries worth more than $9,000 dollars.

Mallory’s Farm owner Shirley Mallory said “in the long run I think they’re just easier to grow. They’re very good for you and that’s what, you know, makes people excited about blueberries because they do have so many antioxidants in them.”

Mallory’s Farm owner Tony Mallory went on to say “I’ve sold the berries off of this farm to go exclusively to Japan for two years.”

There’s more in the article. I suspect WCTV glossed over this part:

The Mallory’s no longer sell to Japan. Because of current labor laws, they’ve converted their farm into a “you pick” meaning people can come and pick their own berries which they’re more than happy to do.

Could the law in question be Georgia’s infamous HB 87 anti-immigrant law? Jack Kingston (GA-01) and Austin Scott (GA-08) tried to push using probationers as farm labor, but local farmers resisted strongly.

-jsq

Short Link: