No fruit at Mert’s Satsumas this year due to hard winter

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — Mert’s Satsumas, a popular local fruit farm in Gulfport, will not have a crop this year. The news is a result of the rough winter here on the coast this year which cost the farm over half its trees.

The word “closed” now sits on Mert’s Stasuma’s sign, as the farm announced recently that this year, it will not bear fruit.

During this time of the year, the farm would normally be filled with fruit, ready to be harvested and shared with not only locals, but also those who travel for the popular home grown satsumas. As for this year, January’s generational snow event that shocked the coast has ultimately led to a season of empty trees at Mert’s Satsumas.

“Our hearts were just absolutely broken in two when this happened. When we got out here the next day, the trees were just frozen to the core of them. It just really broke our hearts and it took us probably about two weeks to stop mourning and get to work,” said Valeri Merritt.

Owners Glenn and Valeri Merritt say the snow and frost killed around 300 of the 500 trees on their property. Those that survived have taken the season to recover. They have since replanted satsuma trees to replace some they lost, but as of right now, only two trees on the property are producing fruit.

“I already pulled out all the trees that were completely dead and replanted 200 of them. So, we’ll still be in the business, hopefully, next year. Just nothing this year,” said Glenn Merritt.

The couple says this has been a difficult year for them, as their farm is their livelihood.

“We don’t have any income at all for this year, and the help that we usually get is looking for other things to do too,” said Glenn.

They are unsure what the future of the farm will look like and only time will tell, but they are working to build back what they have lost.

“Next year we should have a crop. God willing, we’ll have enough trees that have fruit on them to have a crop next year,” Glenn said.

Mert’s Satsumas is hoping to have plenty of fruit next year when the trees are able to recover. They are also looking forward to welcoming back all of the familiar faces on the farm.