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Gov. Shapiro Pushes for Federal Aid as PA Fruit Farmers Face $200M in Losses After April Freeze
State officials say losses could reach $200 million as orchards lose this year’s crop and some growers prepare to close for the season.
- On Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro toured Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster County, calling for federal disaster aid after farmers faced $150 million to $200 million in crop losses from April's historic freeze.
- Record temperatures in April triggered early blooming, but severe freezes on April 20 and 21 destroyed the crops, leaving grower Corey McCleaf of Cherry Hill Orchards without a harvest this year.
- State leaders are attempting to redirect $75 million from the High Path Avian Influenza Fund to support affected growers, with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding calling the situation "the worst growers have seen in decades."
- Combined crop values exceeding $70 million face uncertainty as New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn characterized the April hot-cold spell as a "rare event" causing widespread regional damage.
- Governor Shapiro pledged to secure both state and federal support, vowing, "We're going to work together to get all this done," as officials in both states pursue federal disaster declarations from the USDA.
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Following ‘devastating’ crop freeze, state leaders call for federal aid
State officials visited Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster County on May 8, 2026, calling for federal aid following a damaging April crop freeze. (Photo from PACast)State officials, speaking from an orchard in Lancaster County on Friday, called for the federal government to provide disaster assistance to farmers whose crops were damaged by an April freeze. Early estimates put economic losses for the commonwealth’s special crop industry between $1…
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
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