MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio - It's been a difficult few months for farmers preparing for the growing season, but hopes are high for the early harvest.

The Valley saw an unseasonably warm winter, which poses concerns for crop disease risk and pests

"We'd like to have a really cold January, February, so it kinda freezes or kills all the diseases and pests in the fields," Carl Angiuli of Angiuli's Farm Market says.

The cold and wet start to April has also been unfavorable for farming. Though many early summer crops still appear to be dormant, farmers are keeping close watch on the integrity of the root systems of fruit-bearing plants. Brungard Farm's Matt Brungard says real concern for these conditions could arise should low temperatures dip below 30 degrees at night.

"One night can thin your trees down to where you still have a pretty good crop. But if you get a couple of those nights, you end up losing most of your crop," he explains.

Still these farmers are expecting to see a strong yield for the season, judging by the number of blossoms sprouting on trees and bushes. And, Angiuli adds, they're hoping to keep prices of locally-grown produce stable.

"It might go up a little bit, but nothing like the variables you see in the grocery stores. We always try to stay very consistent," Angiuli notes.