Speaking Out: Extreme Weather Keeping Fruit Growers on Their Toes
June 11, 2024 Extreme weather/climate events are ranked by growers as the second-greatest risk to profit in the 2024 American Fruit Grower’s State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey. Interestingly, weather was not one of the top answers when we started the survey a decade ago. Only lately, as climate change events seem more prevalent, and growers experience days that are hotter, colder, or wetter than most recall, has the topic zoomed up the rankings.
Without further ado, here is what our grower-respondents believe in their own words:
“We have lost two crops due to late freezes in the 12 years we have been operational.” (Texas blueberry grower)
“Late freezes for the last 10 years have increased in regularity. To survive, we will have to invest in some sort of freeze protection.” (Georgia blueberry grower)
“Apple crop loss due to late freezes and summer hailstorms have by far largest impact.” (Ohio tree fruit grower)
“Weather is by far the most challenging risk to production, and it just keeps getting more extreme.” (Tennessee berry grower)
“Freezing and early heat waves have reduced crop yields. The wet days have reduced field access, and dry summers need more irrigation.” (Indiana apple grower)
“The weather is getting more and more unpredictable and has the most impact on business practices. For example, right now in mid-April we can’t work the field due to extensive rains. The ground is all soggy and the tractor gets stuck. (Massachusetts berry grower)
“The new weather normal is not a good weather normal because of climate change” (New York state berry grower)
“For the last few years our biggest problem has been the weather and frost and freeze killing our apple crops.” (North Carolina apple grower)
BIGGEST THREAT
“Weather is our biggest threat, from a late frost to a hailstorm during our growing season.” (North Carolina apple grower)
“We are getting more frequent heavy rains, causing more disease pressure and operational difficulties.” (Maine tree fruit grower)
“For two years we have had weather that nearly wiped out our crops. All other factors are irrelevant if we have no fruit and the maintenance costs remain the same.” (Montana tree fruit grower)
“April hard freezes have cut production the last two years.” (South Carolina blueberry grower)
“Frost in 2022, drought in 2023, and record-breaking warmth all winter has us extremely concerned with production.” (Wisconsin apple grower)
“This time of year I am sweating the many days of above-freezing nights and 60-degree days. We should not have this till the middle of April at the earliest. Question: How to save my berries if they come into bloom in April instead of May?” (New York state strawberry grower)
“Warmer springs may make us more susceptible to frost, which wiped out our entire crop in 2016.” (Michigan apple grower)
“Early frost can be very dangerous to achieving a reasonable yield.” (Connecticut apple grower)
“Climate change is killing us — all of us” (Washington state grape grower)
“The effects of climate change, causing wacko weather events, is beyond anything I can do, except trying to reduce my emissions.” (Wisconsin pome fruit grower)
“Can I just use this space to complain about crop insurance premiums? I pay, pay, pay and never get anything out of it! Even after a freeze disaster! They say it’s normal biennial fluctuation in yield, for Pete’s sake!” (New York state apple grower)
Stay tuned for more insights from the 2024 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry report in the coming weeks.
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