USDA Grants Freeze Relief to Pennsylvania Farmers as New Jersey Seeks Aid for $300 Million Losses
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 28
USDA Grants Freeze Relief to Pennsylvania Farmers as New Jersey Seeks Aid for $300 Million Losses
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 28
Pennsylvania farmers won USDA freeze relief, while New Jersey's federal disaster request remained under review after a late-April cold snap ravaged orchards across the region.
Nearly $300 million in New Jersey fruit crops were lost when temperatures plunged at a critical growth stage, wiping out much of the state's apple and peach harvest.
Ed Wengryn, New Jersey's agriculture secretary, called it a "generational freeze" and warned the region will have little to no local peaches this season.
Low-interest federal loans are a key part of the requested aid because many growers have little fruit to sell and need cash to cover bills into next year.
Terhune Orchards and other farms are leaning on strawberries, berries and vegetables to soften the blow, while urging consumers to buy local as Northeast fruit supplies tighten.
A $300 million freeze wiped out East Coast orchards. Will consumers face empty shelves and soaring apple prices?
When a single frost erases a year's income, is our disaster relief system fast enough to save family farms?
As 'generational freezes' threaten our food supply, what new farming methods can protect tomorrow's harvest?
The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Freeze: $200 Million in Crop Losses, Relief Delays, and the Future of Regional Agriculture
Overview
In April 2026, a sudden 'killing freeze' struck the Mid-Atlantic, causing severe damage to fruit crops in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during a critical growth period. This led to urgent calls for help from farmers and prompted immediate government action. Pennsylvania quickly received a federal disaster declaration for 17 counties, unlocking emergency aid, while New Jersey activated state-level support and sought federal relief. The event exposed major gaps in current relief and insurance systems, highlighting the need for faster, more effective support and stronger adaptation strategies as climate change increases the risk of such extreme weather events.