Some Pa. apple growers to receive additional federal assistance after devastating April freeze

Additional relief is being made available for federally insured apple growers whose crops were affected by a devastating late-April freeze.

Between April 19th and 21st, temperatures that dipped into the low 20s harmed fruit operations across swaths of Pennsylvania and other states. The federal Agriculture Department previously took steps to provide emergency loans in areas hit hard by the freeze, including multiple Pennsylvania counties. 

The latest move from the USDA expands relief for qualified growers in Pennsylvania and other states by allowing them to finalize claims early, before the disposition of crops, on a case-by-case basis. The goal is to allow more flexibility for producers in making harvest and marketing decisions.

“We’re prioritizing American farmers to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful, strengthen farm resilience and support agricultural stability following challenging weather events,” said Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Richard Fordyce. 

Pat Swanson, administrator of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, said, “this flexibility benefits growers, keeps apples on the market for consumers and safeguards the taxpayer’s investment in the crop insurance program.”

The move comes after urging from fruit producers and packers, as well as members of the Shapiro administration and Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. 

State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding praised the move, but also called for more federal relief for other fruit producers affected by the freeze.

“Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction. Combined with recent disaster declarations making growers in many Pennsylvania counties eligible for low-interest loans, this step will lessen the blow at a time when farmers are being hit hard by nature, compounded by rising costs and erratic markets,” Redding said. “Apple growers were not alone in losing crops. We hope flexibility will be extended to other growers, and Congress and the USDA will authorize other assistance to support our growers.”

After the freeze, Redding and Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster County to meet with growers. Shapiro also penned a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting a disaster declaration, which was ultimately issued later that month.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said in a statement that Shapiro has continued to push for additional state relief funding in ongoing budget negotiations with legislative leaders.

Affected apple growers are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent for more information about the relief.