Late-April Freeze Destroys Northeast Apple And Peach Crops, Costs $300 Million
A rare late-April 2026 freeze struck New Jersey, killing buds and destroying much of the state's apple and peach harvests and causing roughly $300 million in fruit-crop losses.[1]
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has requested federal disaster relief.[1] The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced assistance for affected Pennsylvania farmers.[1] Officials warn there may be effectively no regional peach supply from New Jersey and Pennsylvania this season.[1] The losses will pressure farmers' finances and raise prices at local markets.
The freeze arrived in late April during a critical bud stage for apples and peaches, leaving blossoms and young fruit tissues especially vulnerable.[1] Blossoms and newly set fruit were killed across many orchards, leaving few marketable peaches or mature apples for harvest.
Farmers and state officials are awaiting federal decisions on disaster aid while beginning longer-term assessments of surviving trees and the next growing season.
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📌 Key Facts
- A rare late-April 2026 freeze hit New Jersey during a critical crop stage, killing buds and destroying much of the state’s apple and peach harvests.
- The New Jersey Department of Agriculture estimates roughly $300 million in fruit-crop losses from the freeze.
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has requested federal disaster relief, and USDA has already announced assistance for affected Pennsylvania farmers.
- Officials warn there may be effectively no regional peach supply from New Jersey and Pennsylvania this season, pressuring farmers’ finances and local fruit markets.
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