Pennsylvania’s apple harvest is underway with growers expecting a smaller crop after spring freezes damaged orchards across the state. Rice Fruit Co. told FreshPlaza that an April freeze struck near peak bloom, reducing production across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic. Despite losses, the company expects supplies of its full range of varieties, although volumes will be lighter for some apples. Early varieties, including Gala and Honeycrisp, began arriving in August.
The damage follows an unusually difficult spring. Penn State Extension specialists estimated in May that some Pennsylvania orchards could lose 80% to 95% of their apples after freezes April 8 and April 21. The setback follows a strong 2025 crop. USDA data show Pennsylvania produced about 505 million pounds of apples last year. Growers remain optimistic about the surviving fruit’s quality as harvest continues into fall.
-NAFB