Salute To Idaho Agriculture: Frost

FILER, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — “It takes years to recover from a financial loss like this,” Robin Kelley said. She is a fourth-generation farmer whose family’s business has dealt with late spring frosts before, but that doesn’t make it easy when it happens.

Back in April temperatures plunged below freezing, destroying many crops at the Kelley Canyon Orchard in Filer. “So the freeze really decimated our cherry crop and cherries are the most lucrative for an orchard.” Robin says normal freezes are easier to manage, but with a hard freeze, the frost will settle on the bloom, killing the fruit bud in the process. “So having that crop be eliminated is catastrophic for us.” Kelley Canyon Orchard was not able to have a cherry picking season this past summer or open up their traditional fruit stand because of the heavy loss. Fortunately, when their plum crop came in, they had a buyer ready to go. “What we have been able to do, because of our relationships with area school districts, is that last week we picked a majority of these plums, and we deliver them to Gooding, Twin Falls, and Jerome school districts.” Robin says the frost not only impacts her family’s farm, but the community as a whole.

“Having those family experiences, I have people really just wanting to come down and pick their own because they love either peach picking or apple picking not only at a discounted price is because it’s something to do in the outdoors, and we really try to work hard to create a beautiful, safe place that is welcoming to everyone.” As Kelley Canyon Orchard prepares for the coming winter, Robin has a request for the community. “So, I’m really asking people that next year when we do have new crop, we have a new crop of pinna’s, and I will be marketing those in April and May. And when we hopefully do have our cherries in late June, please come to the orchard, have the experience, support local ag, and I’ll tell you, our story.”

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