Pennsylvania launches $10M grant program to help fruit growers recover from April freeze

The 2026-27 state budget created the Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant program.

• Haley O'Brien/WITF
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  Haley O'Brien joined WITF in 2026. A native of Scranton, she enjoys exploring Pennsylvania's diverse communities. Haley previously worked at NPR/PBS stations in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, and has won awards for video storytelling and beat reporting.

A new Pennsylvania grant program will help fruit growers recover after an April freeze devastated crops this year. At Strites’ Orchard near Harrisburg, co-owner Matt Strite said the late spring freeze caused the worst crop losses he’s seen.  

“We lost probably half our cherry crop, 90 percent of our apricots and plums, 80 percent of our peaches, probably 75, 80% of our apples all froze,” he said. “When you come in our market, you might not find peaches one day, you might find them the next, and it’s just because there’s not a lot of fruit coming into the market.“ 

Pennsylvania is a top producer of peaches, berries and other fruits that are typically in season in July. 

The Shapiro administration created the Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant program as part of this year’s state budget, which Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law this month.  

Now, $10 million is available to help farmers offset financial losses caused by the freeze.  

Strite, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture fruit board, said growers still face many of the same production costs even when their harvests are severely reduced.  

“So there’s still a lot of money going into the orchards when you’re not getting any money back out of them,” he said. “That’s kind of where some growers are looking for assistance to help get to that next season.” 

Some Pa. Farmers received assistance from the US Department of Agriculture in May. The Shapiro administration is calling for more support for growers through weather-related losses, including a statewide disaster declaration and more insurance options. 

“This funding is an important step toward helping Pennsylvania’s fruit growers recover from one of the most damaging spring freezes in recent memory,” Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement. “We’re helping growers rebuild while continuing to advocate for additional support where it’s needed.”