BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — After a devastating early freeze in April, Pennsylvania fruit growers may be getting some much-needed relief.
Matt Boyer runs Boyer Orchards in Bedford County and says unseasonably warm days followed by freezing temperatures this past spring severely diminished their apple crop.
He says his 300 acres normally yields about two hundred thousand bushels, but not this year.
Boyer says that number is down 70 percent, which is more than enough of a loss to qualify for state aide.
According to state Ag officials, disaster assistance is now available for Pennsylvania fruit growers who suffered crop damage between April 1st and April 21st of this year.
Boyer says they have applied for the grant money but have no idea how much they will get or when they’ll get it.
He says some varieties fared better than others, and his family is just glad they had enough apples to keep their market open.
“Red Delicious and Macintosh, they really got clobbered, but we still have enough apples for our market; we’re open now seven days a week and the sales have been brisk for Cortland, that’s really a big seller for us.”
Boyer says they know times are tough and everybody’s watching their nickels, so they have tried to keep their prices relatively the same as last year.