William G. Beggs picked peaches at Pioneer Orchard. The orchard has been in his family for four generations. (POTOS BY STEPHAN FRAZIER)

Peach and apple orchards throughout the area look good, according to orchard representatives.

"We'll kick off the official apple season with our pick your own' season during the Labor Day weekend," said Stanley Beggs of Pioneer Apple Orchard in Cape Girardeau. "We'll start off with Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and some large Jonathons."

David Diebold, who operates Diebold Orchards near Benton, Mo., is already picking some apples.

"The Gala apples are almost ready," said Diebold. "We're picking a few varieties -- Early Gold and Red Free -- now."

But the most emphasis now is on peaches, say Diebold and William Beggs, of Pioneer Orchards & Market at Jackson, Mo.

"We've been picking peaches a while," said Diebold. "And we'll probably go into late August."

Diebold and Beggs, veteran peach growers, agree that the 2001 peach crop is good. "The size is running good," said Beggs. "We've been fortunate with the weather."

Early on, growers worried about the cold spell in April of this year. But the frost may have helped growers, noted Beggs. The few buds that may have been damaged would have had to have been cut anyway. "Most peach crops need to be thinned," he said.

"We're having excellent peaches," said Diebold. "For awhile there, the rains created some problems. A few peaches ripened too fast. Flavor has improved, too."

Peach flavors come and go with the weather, said Diebold, who added that a new nectarine would be ready in his orchards soon.

Good statewide crop

Statewide, peach producers have reported an excellent crop, said Tammy Bruckerhoff, horticulture marketing specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

"The warm weather and the favorable conditions this spring have contributed to this year's peach production," said Bruckerhoff. "Peaches are pouring into farmers' markets, roadside stands and supermarkets across the state."

Peaches were down some last year, following a "great peach year in 1999," said Bruckerhoff. "Growers in all areas of the state report quality peaches this year."

Bruckerhoff also issued good reports for the apple crop in Missouri.

Growers are a little concerned about the hot weather, but most apples should be ripe for the picking late this month or early September, said Bruckerhoff. More than 50 apple orchards are located in the state, with a number of them in Southeast Missouri.

While it's mainly peaches being picked now, Pioneer Apple Orchard is picking little green apples instead.

"We provide a candy apple company with the small green Jonathons," Stanley Beggs said. "The company wants apples between 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 inches in diameter."

Happy Apples of Washington, Mo., uses up to a tractor-trailer load of apples a day for its candy apples. The manufacturer received its first load from Beggs last week, and will receive as many as 15 to 20 more before the season ends.