After two climate-decimated harvests, southern peach farmers wonder how to regroup

Warmer winters, late freezes and wildly variable rainfall have formed a perfect storm to wreck the one of the region's favorite fruits

Farming is inherently risky, a profession that always involves an expectation of loss and damage. But among many farmers, peaches are considered an unpredictable crop, with high risks and high rewards.

Farming peaches is like gambling in a casino," said 44-year-old Robert Jackson II, of Lyman, South Carolina. The fruit bruises easily and is vulnerable to weather changes, but can earn handsome profits.