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(KMOV) - Memorial Day ushers in the unofficial start to the summer season at Eckert’s.

KMOV

When it comes to the summer supply of fresh fruit things unfortunately are not totally peachy due to a major frost last month.

Chris Eckert says, "The last time we had as broad damage as we had this year was probably 1955."

You have to look a little harder on the peach trees at Eckert's to spot the fruit.

A severe frost Easter weekend cut peach production by half costing the farm that's been in the Eckert family since the 1870's.

"Overall it’s probably going to be one to two million dollars," Eckert says.

Because the crop is thin you will not be able to pick your own peaches this season.

Eckert's will still have plenty of peaches on sale at its general store in Belleville.

They have partnered with a farm in West Virginia and come mid-July will be trucking in peaches from that farm nearly round the clock for five weeks.

Due to short supply you will not find Eckert's peaches at other local markets like Schnuck's and Whole Foods this season.

That market is not going to exist for us this year. “Customers who want to get home grown Eckert's peaches are going to have to come out to Eckert's to get them," Eckert says.

Despite the frost, blackberry capacity is good and is expected to be around eighty percent. You will be able to pick your own beginning mid-July.

Eckert's two acre vineyard of cabernet sauvignon grapes is going gangbusters! 

Looking ahead this summer though the apple supply did take a hit from the frost Eckert says the crop of early apples looks excellent.

If you want good apple picking make sure you get to Eckert's early in the season, late August or early September.