Pennsylvania Apple Harvest Begins After Damaging Spring Freeze

Pennsylvania’s apple harvest is underway with growers expecting a smaller crop after spring freezes damaged orchards across the state.  Growers in the Keystone state said an April freeze struck near peak bloom, reducing production across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic.

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.

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