Late Freeze, Hail Stunts Rocky Ford Cantaloupe Harvest

ROCKY FORD, Colo. (CBS4)- A double punch from Mother Nature that included a late season freeze and damaging hail storms has limited this year's crop of Rocky Ford Cantaloupes.

One farm with the Rocky Ford Growers Association lost its entire crop.

The growers have lost close to 100 acres due to a late freeze in April and torrential rains and a hail storm earlier this week.

"We plan to deliver the first Rocky Ford Cantaloupes to market next week but with this severe weather there will be fewer available than in past years," said Michael Hirakata, President of the Rocky Ford Growers Association.

The melons are expected to be available through early September.