Pennsylvania fruit farmers and growers have from now until Sept. 21 to apply for spring damage disaster relief funding over late spring crop losses.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has made up to $10 million in relief available to eligible farmers that experienced crop damage from the unusual freezing temperatures from April 1 to April 21, according to a Pennsylvania state press release.
Bucks County Beacon previously reported the “unseasonably frigid” April temperatures caused roughly 98% of Pennsylvania’s fruit growers to experience crop losses this year.
Governor Shapiro’s administration is pushing for federal disaster assistance to support Pennsylvania’s fruit growers.
“Over the last few months, my administration has talked to growers across the commonwealth, learning about the hardships they expect to go through in the coming months and the help they need to get through it,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro said in the press release. “A sudden freeze like the one we experienced in April will make the very real challenges they face – from workforce issues, to closing markets as a result of tariffs, to the cost of doing business going up — even harder. While I know these grants won’t cover all of our farmers’ losses, they’re another step in the right direction, and we will keep fighting to ensure they stay afloat.”
Shapiro sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling out the hardships faced by fruit growers who have exceeded the 30% disaster trigger, as some growers anticipate 100% crop losses this year.
In the letter, Shapiro requested a “Secretarial Disaster Designation for the entirety of Pennsylvania” that would open the door to low interest USDA loans to keep orchard and fruit growers afloat and “provide bridge assistance for growers as they also prepare for the 2027 growing season and beyond.”
Eligible Pennsylvania growers must have experienced at least a 30% loss of anticipated crop production due to the April freezing temperatures.
Crops covered include “pome fruits” like apples and pears, “stone fruits” like peaches, cherries and others such as grapes and berries.
“In Pennsylvania, we take great pride in our bountiful fruit crops like apples, peaches, strawberries, cherries and other berries. They are high value crops used in processing and directly marketed to consumers as fresh fruit,” said Sen. Judith L. Schwank in a press release. Schwank (SD-11, Berks County) is the Pennsylvania Minority Caucus administrator.
Schwank said the late April freeze killed developing fruit flower buds, which “decimated much of this year’s anticipated fruit crop across the commonwealth.”
As a result many farmers experience partial or complete “wipe out” effects on their crops; which impacts farm markets, food processors, farm workers and profit margins.
“I join Governor Shapiro in calling on the federal government to expedite disaster assistance and help Pennsylvania’s growers recover,” Schwank said.
Applications are open now thru September 21. To apply, visit here for details.
