Upstate New York farmers are anticipating a great year for apples and other fruit after many suffered weather-related losses in 2012.

Last year, an unusually warm winter and spring brought blossoms out early, leading to heavy losses when the normal April freezes hit. But this year, the long, chilly spring, rainy summer and recent heat wave have made for ideal growing conditions.

Cornell University horticulture professor Marvin Pritts says plants that didn’t bear much fruit last year put their energy into building up buds, which resulted in heavy blooms this spring. He said blueberries, raspberries, apples and grapes are all doing well.

James Buhrmaster, manager of Buhrmaster Farms in the Schenectady County town of Glenville, says blueberries and raspberries are producing heavy crops.

(AP)