Frosty spring damages crops in Milton-Freewater area

MILTON-FREEWATER, Ore. — Frosty nights in March and April have put the hurt on the Milton-Freewater area’s cherry crops. The region faces a minimum reduction of 30 percent in its cherry crop, and possibly up to 60 percent, due to freezes that struck last month, said Clive Kaiser, Oregon State University extension agent. Losses were not uniform with some cultivators being hit worse than others. Along with cherries, prune, plum, apricot and apple crops are also going to be affected, although how badly has not been determined, Kaiser said.  READ MORE »