LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — At an orchard in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro walked through rows of damaged trees.
Trees that should be blooming are now showing the impact of the late-April freeze.
“We pretty much have a total loss across the state,” said Corey McCleaf of Cherry Hill Orchards.
And it is not just in Lancaster County. Farms in Berks County are also feeling it. Weaver’s Orchard shared video online showing visible damage to crops.
Farmers say the freeze hit at the worst possible time, right as crops were starting to grow.
“The loss here is staggering. It is serious and unparalleled compared to previous losses,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
The governor is now asking for a federal disaster declaration to bring in help. But he says the state is not waiting.
Officials are also looking at ways to redirect funding, including tapping into a roughly $75 million avian influenza fund.
“We want to be able to flex some of those dollars to help those fruit farmers who have been impacted by this freeze,” Shapiro said.
State leaders say that funding could provide short-term help while they continue pushing for federal support.