FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) – This year’s rains have been a welcome sight to many Fredericksburg businesses, especially the peach industry.

Jayme Vogel has been walking peach orchards ever since he was a child. As second-generation farmer and owner of the 59-year-old Vogel Orchard near Fredericksburg, he and other peach farmers are expecting a great season.

“There’s a lot of interest in peaches, the store owners, the hotel owners they’re always very interested in how good the crop is going to be because it brings business to the area,” said Vogel.

Daryl Whitworth of the area’s convention and visitors bureau said no rain last year brought less tourism dollars.

“It impacted the entire town, from the filling stations to the restaurants, the mom and pop stores,” Whitworth said. “So when we have peaches it gives people another reason to come to Fredericksburg.”

Last year and this year are completely different. The 2011 drought left a weak peach crop. This year the crop is coming in about two weeks early. What that means is they’ll be hiring more help for the summer and a better economy for the entire region.

And it’s already showing. Regulars like Round Rock’s Liz Klar are back, just like she’s been doing for more than 50 years.

“It’s just a special stop. It’s just always been one of my mom’s favorite places to always come,” said Klar.

Others like Chris Fan read about the peaches while on his way to California from New York.

“We were looking through the books, travel books, and we noticed that there were peaches around here so we definitely needed to stop by and try out the peaches here,” Fan said.

The Texas Agrilife extension service says Gillespie County alone produces about 40 percent of the entire state’s crop. With a year like this it will likely be more than that.