Aid Needed to Save PA Fruit Farmers Following Freeze

4/29/2026

By Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), Republican chairman
PA House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

HARRISBURG – Rep. Dan Moul, Republican Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said Pennsylvania fruit growers are assessing damage to crops following a late April freeze that came at a very critical stage in the annual growing cycle. It is feared Pennsylvania, which ranks fourth in the nation in apple production, could lose as much as 80% of its fruit crop this spring, putting farmers in a precarious financial situation that could have long-term effects and impact the supply of fresh fruit here in the Commonwealth.

After a harsh winter that had more than its share of days below freezing and bouts of heavy snow, the higher-than-normal temperatures in mid-April were a welcome change. The warmth and sunshine signaled Pennsylvania’s berries and fruit trees to produce the delicate buds that turn into flowers and commonly attract bees and other pollinators in the spring. Another growing season was coming to life.

“The warm spell was short-lived, however, giving way to sustained subfreezing temperatures on April 20-21, freezing the young buds and effectively ending their growth cycle,” said Moul. “This will be devastating for many of Pennsylvania’s fruit farmers, particularly those here in Adams County.”

Adams County is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s fruit belt, which generates more than $1 billion for the state’s economy.

Moul said many farmers he has talked with claim they have never witnessed a freezing event this late or this damaging in their lifetime. He said early reports from producers show that the perennial fruit crop for this year ? apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, strawberries and other berries ? has been decimated due to the recent freeze. “While we all hope some of the crops are salvageable, the outlook is bleak,” he said.

Moul said many Pennsylvania fruit farmers are assessing the damage to determine if they will have crops this year and, in some cases, whether their losses will put them out of business. He said some wonder how they will pay workers who are under contract to care for and harvest crops that may not materialize, and how retailers will fill store shelves.

“Many farmers have crop insurance, but some do not, and insurance seldom covers all their losses anyway,” said Moul. “To help our farmers, I have contacted Pennsylvania Congressman G. T. Thompson, chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, to request emergency funding to help them recover from their losses in the recent freeze.

“I also met recently with Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who supports my legislation to enable Pennsylvania fruit farmers to access disaster grant funding through the Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness program. This funding would cover what is not already covered by crop insurance or federal programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). My aim is to protect those who feed us, the jobs they provide and the positive economic impact both have on Adams County and all of Pennsylvania.
Helping our farmers helps all of us,” Moul said.

Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives