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Since You Asked: Pear orchards withstood hail onslaught Posted Apr 19, 2018 at 2:01 AM It was hailing as we pulled off Interstate 5 at the south Medford interchange at about 3 p.m. Monday. There was a really black cloud to the southeast over that big orchard area east of Phoenix-Talent. Any orchard damage? — Bob L., Medford As dark, ugly and cold as the sky was, spitting out bits of hail along the Bear Creek drainage, we haven't received crop damage reports from local growers. Last year, there was little hail damage to the Rogue Valley crop, but whenever ice falls from the sky, it can be a bit disconcerting for growers. Doug Lowry of Associated Fruit, which operates orchards in that part of the valley, said the hail didn't do much to his orchards. "We're a little more worried about it freezing than the hail," Lowry said. "It's not that big of a factor. As long as it doesn't strip the blossoms off the tree, we're good." Likewise, Ron Meyer, a Talent orchardist, didn't detect damage to his crop. "We had what I call snow pellets," Meyer said. "That and rain, more than hail. I look at the leaves. If they're shredded, then we need to worry." But there was no shredding. "So far, so good," Meyer said. "It's still a long ways until harvest time." Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . We're sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Most Popular Overdose antidote to be given away Wednesday Apr 16 at 2:01 AM Makerspace coming to Central Point Apr 18 at 11:27 AM Spider-Man's brother charged in Ashland drug, mail-theft cases Apr 13 at 5:16 PM Update: Teen's name released in fatal crash Apr 16 at 10:16 AM Democrats in turmoil Apr 17 at 8:17 AM Renovated hospice house nearing fundraising deadline Apr 14 at 10:17 AM Johnson boogies to fast time in women's Pear win Apr 14 at 6:37 PM Grants Pass man to appear on 'American Murder Mystery' Apr 16 at 9:56 AM Airwaves auction means headaches for local TV Apr 17 at 8:16 AM Earl Winfield "Bud" Lininger Apr 15 at 2:00 AM Platano, Johnson grab Pear Blossom crowns Apr 14 at 2:29 PM Biologists use technology to learn what kills deer babies Apr 13 at 9:15 AM © Copyright 2006-2018 Rosebud Media LLC. All rights reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com ~ P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501