Western Colorado peach growers say they may have lost a third of their crop to a killing freeze last weekend.

The temperature unexpectedly dropped into the mid-teens in some areas on Sunday night and Monday morning. The forecast called for lows in the 20s.

Bruce Talbott, manager of Talbott Farms, says the total damage to orchards in the Palisade area could total $7 million.

A freeze last week killed nearly all the apricots in the Palisade area.

Talbott says this year's freeze damage is the worst he's seen since 1999. He says cherry orchards also suffered heavy losses, but apples and pears are still safe.

Federal reports show the total market value of agricultural products in Mesa County, which includes Palisade, was $61.2 million in 2007.