Stutzman Ranch closed for summer following harsh winter freezes

Following a particularly cold winter and early spring in 2024, local fruit planters Floyd and Betsy Stutzman were forced to cancel their widely popular U-pick cherry, nectarine, and peach season for the summer. 

The cancellation comes after two major freezes in January and April destroyed the Stutzmans’ crops of cherries, peaches, and nectarines.

Floyd Stutzman spoke with the Wenatchee Business Journal, explaining when and how these freezes dealt their fatal blows to the farm's crops.

“Two things happened for us here at this location, and one was that cold weather in January. I think it was January 12 or 13, for us here, it got down to minus 14,” Stutzman revealed. “So that’s bad for soft fruits like peaches and nectarines. Because, at 10 degrees below zero, the buds start to die and then they won’t flower in the Spring. So, when we got minus 14, it killed every single one of our peach and nectarine flowers.” 

Immediately, the Stutzmans knew their crop of peaches and nectarines was destroyed. However, they remained optimistic for their popular U-pick cherries which bring in much of the farm’s summer business. Sadly, by April, another frosty disaster struck the local planters.

“In April, we had two frosty nights, I think April 19 and April 20. At night, it got down to a critical temperature of 27. And [at that point] the cherries were just as big as the eraser of a pencil, and it just killed them all and turned them all black and just gave us no cherries. So, we got kind of a double whammy,” Stutzman shared with disappointment. 

Knowing that all of their soft fruit was destroyed, the Stutzmans had no other choice than to cancel their summer season of cherries, peaches, and nectarines, their most lucrative period of business. 

Now, Floyd and Betsy await late August, when their U-pick Gala apple and Bartlett pear season kicks off, hoping to make up for their unforeseen summer losses and keep the family business running. 

“We’ll open up in late August for our Gala apples, pears, and seedless table grapes. And then, also our Fuji and Golden Delicious apples… they’ve survived with some frost marks on them,” Stutzman mentioned. “And those will be shaved off, so we’ll still have a crop of apples and pears this year, just to kind of salvage the season,” said Stutzman optimistically. 

Though their farm will survive, Stutzman shared his concern for the pickers in the local area who rely on the certainty of spring and summer fruit harvests to secure employment. These pickers are the backbone of the massive agricultural industry, which has transformed Wenatchee and its surrounding communities for generations. Without crops to harvest, the Stutzmans couldn’t afford to hire their usual pickers, and they’re worried the same has happened with other soft fruit growers in the area, leaving many pickers without the crucial summer employment opportunities they often rely on to survive. 

“It’s not just the growers. It’s the people that depend on that orchard work, because they depend on that for their family to get through the season. It’s a big part of the community, and it’s an economic base, and there’s gonna be a big chunk of it missing this year,” Stutzman shared, worried about the effects that freezes like this can have on the community as a whole. 

The Stutzman family has been operating their fruit orchard for generations since 1907, and, despite the recent setbacks of 2024’s harsh winter weather, they plan on continuing its operations as they remain hopeful for the next year of soft fruit harvests.

“Yeah, we’ve gone through a hard time, that’s for sure. But growers are very optimistic, and they wouldn’t be farmers if they weren’t optimistic. And we’re of course looking forward to a better year, next year. You know, we’re seeing it as ‘the trees are taking a year off,’ and they’ll [hopefully] come back more or less with a bit more than a full crop, and then [we’ll] try and make up for the year that they took a little vacation.”

Starting late August, the Stutzman Ranch plans to open its Gala apple and Bartlett pear U-pick harvest season. By early to mid-September, it will open its harvest for seedless table grapes, Fuji apples, and Golden Delicious apples. 

To learn more about Stutzman Ranch and their U-pick seasons, visit thestutzmanranch.com.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media