A Few More Bad Apples: As The Climate Changes, Fruit Growing Does, Too
Apple growing is a ruthless business obsessed with good looks. Higher temperatures affect every part of of the fruit's life cycle, from more pests to changing color — and can even give them sunburn.
The apples won't be harvested until October. But when fourth-generation fruit grower Phil Schwallier walks through his orchard in Sparta, Mich., he already knows which ones he won't be able to sell.
"This one's got a little sunburn on it," he says in early July. "A red yellowish color developing here on the part that's facing the sun. That's just from Friday, Saturday, Sunday, when it was so hot."
The warming climate is an increasing problem for agriculture. As weather disasters like heat waves and floods , crops are at risk of damage.
