Gov. Shapiro Pushes for Federal Aid as PA Fruit Farmers Face $200M in Losses After April Freeze
The governor wants federal aid and redirected state funds as growers face $150 million to $200 million in crop losses, officials said.
- On Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro toured a Lancaster County orchard, calling the freeze damage "unparalleled" while pushing for federal and state aid as farmers face $150 million to $200 million in crop losses.
- Destructive freezes on April 20 and 21 followed a mid-month heat spell that accelerated tree blooming, creating conditions vulnerable to the temperature drop across the Susquehanna Valley.
- Cherry Hill Orchards owner Corey McCleaf stated, "We will not have any apples this fall," confirming the farm faces no harvest income until next year due to the freeze's extent.
- Seeking to mitigate losses, Shapiro has requested that state leaders redirect a portion of the $75 million High Path Avian Influenza Fund to support affected fruit growers while pursuing a USDA disaster declaration.
- Agriculture officials warn that surviving local peaches and apples will likely cost more this summer, as growers compare the devastation to the 2000 plum pox outbreak, marking one of the worst seasons in decades.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Following ‘devastating’ crop freeze, state leaders call for federal aid
State officials visited Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster County on May 8, 2026, calling for federal aid following a damaging April crop freeze. (Photo from PACast)State officials, speaking from an orchard in Lancaster County on Friday, called for the federal government to provide disaster assistance to farmers whose crops were damaged by an April freeze. Early estimates put economic losses for the commonwealth’s special crop industry between $1…
Governor Urges Feds to Issue Disaster Declaration For Ag Producers Devastated By Crop Freeze
Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Lancaster County on Friday and called upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite disaster assistance to Pennsylvania farmers impacted by a severe April freeze. Standing alongside Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and Corey McCleaf, owner of Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster, Shapiro called the April 20-21 freeze, “a tragic and devastating moment for our ag community all across this commonwealth.” He told…
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