Penn State Extension helps growers assess losses, care for orchards and pursue assistance

The calendar says harvest season. For some Pennsylvania orchards, there is little produce to show for it.

Damaging April freezes wiped out much of the state’s tree fruit, with some growers losing nearly everything and others harvesting only a fraction of a normal yield.

“This freeze has hit fruit growers very hard this year,” said Sarah Zost, president of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania. “For some, it’s led to devastating losses across all their tree-fruit crops. Others are ‘lucky’ and may have 50% of their usual apple crop. It’s a terrible year when half of a crop is considered good luck.”

A patchwork harvest

The damage was particularly severe for Pennsylvania’s peach and cherry crops, said Daniel Weber, horticulture and commercial tree fruit educator with Penn State Extension. Most peaches were lost. Cherries and apricots produced little to no crop.

“One grower said they had about two cherries for the entire orchard,” Weber said. “Another said he might have enough to make one pie.”

Apples fared better overall, but yields vary widely from orchard to orchard and even among varieties within the same farm. In some areas, growers may have around 70% of a normal crop. Elsewhere, losses are far more severe.

“It’s rare to find an orchard where there’s a consistent yield,” Weber said.

He recalled inspecting one orchard where some blocks had fruit while others, including Fuji and Granny Smith apples, had almost none. At a Lancaster County orchard, he said the crop was so small that harvesting the apples would cost more than the fruit was worth.

Growers who retained fruit faced additional weather challenges, Weber said. A hailstorm damaged fruit across parts of the Adams County fruit-growing region, while heavy rain and winds later toppled a row of fruit-laden apple trees at another orchard.

Local markets feel the losses

Consumers still are likely to find apples and other fruits at large grocery chains this fall, Weber said, because those stores can draw from suppliers in other states and countries. The effects may be much more noticeable at farm markets, roadside stands and pick-your-own orchards.

Those businesses may have fewer varieties available, higher prices or no pick-your-own crop at all. That could change a familiar fall tradition for families accustomed to visiting orchards for apples, cider and other seasonal products.

“Those are the ones who may be disappointed,” Weber said.

The peach shortage also prompted some growers to bring in fruit from elsewhere. Weber wrote letters supporting growers seeking temporary permission from farmers markets to sell peaches brought in from places such as South Carolina because of their crop losses.

Market organizers generally agreed, Weber said, as long as growers clearly identified where the fruit was grown and explained why locally grown peaches were unavailable.

Effects extend beyond the harvest

For growers, losing a crop does not eliminate the cost of maintaining an orchard, Weber noted. Trees still must be pruned, protected from pests and diseases, and otherwise cared for so they remain healthy and productive in future years.

The effects have rippled beyond the orchards. Some farms reduced workers’ hours, laid off employees or did not hire their usual seasonal crews. Zost, business manager of Bonnie Brae Fruit Farm in Adams County, said her farm did not bring in about 30 workers normally hired for harvest. Packers, processors and farm markets also have felt the effects.

Weber said reduced employment can affect spending at local businesses, including gas stations, restaurants and laundromats.

The lack of fruit creates another concern for growers. Trees normally direct much of their energy into developing fruit. Without a crop, that energy instead can fuel excessive shoot and branch growth.

If that growth continues too late into the season, Weber said, tender new wood may be more vulnerable to cold damage. Penn State Extension has been advising growers on practices that can help slow growth and encourage trees to harden off before winter.

Navigating a difficult year

“Penn State Extension has provided critical support during this difficult year,” Zost said. “We deeply value their expertise and commitment to serving the tree-fruit industry.”

She noted that tree-fruit specialists helped growers assess damage, determine which management practices were necessary even without a crop, and explain the freeze’s effects to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and others.

Weber compiled information that helped support Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s request for a federal disaster designation. Working with Zost and growers across the state, the effort helped make federal assistance available to eligible producers across Pennsylvania through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

Growers also could apply for assistance through a $10 million state relief program for producers who suffered crop losses.

Weber encouraged growers of all sizes to document their losses and explore available assistance.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re an urban ag person who’s only got a half-acre of peaches and apples,” he said. “Claim that half-acre.”

Extension continues to provide harvest-season guidance. Weekly apple maturity reports track factors including fruit size, color, sugar content, firmness and starch levels to help growers determine when apples should be harvested and whether they are best suited for immediate sale or storage.

“Picking early is a problem, but picking too late is even worse,” Weber said. “Fruit harvested at the wrong stage can develop quality problems, including off-flavors during storage.”

Weber and Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, assistant professor of tree fruit, produce the reports.

Supporting Pennsylvania growers

For consumers looking to help, Weber and Zost advised continuing to support Pennsylvania farms and markets, even if their usual selection looks different this year.

“If you’ve got a favorite market, continue to go there, even if you’re just buying a cider doughnut or a baked good, or jam or jelly, and not fresh fruit,” Weber said. “They really can use your business.”

Some markets have expanded their selection of vegetables or other products to make up for lost fruit sales, he said.

Zost encouraged shoppers to seek out Pennsylvania-grown products when available.

“Stop at your local farmers market or farm stand and buy what they have available,” she said. “Every dollar counts, especially this year.”