WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation for all counties in the commonwealth after late spring freezes caused widespread damage to fruit and specialty crop farms, with industry losses estimated between $150 million and $200 million.
U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) led the bipartisan request to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins alongside Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) and multiple members of Pennsylvania’s House delegation.
The request supports Governor Josh Shapiro’s appeal for federal disaster assistance following below-freezing temperatures recorded across Pennsylvania on April 21.
“We write in support of Governor Josh Shapiro’s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for all counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” members of Congress wrote in the letter.
Lawmakers indicated the damage followed an extended period of unusually warm weather that triggered premature blossoming among fruit trees and other crops before temperatures dropped into the 20s in parts of the state.
The freeze damaged a broad range of specialty crops, including apples, peaches, cherries, apricots, pears, strawberries and grapes.
“Growers of diverse specialty crops … sustained significant damage to their crops from these freezing temperatures,” the delegation wrote.
Pennsylvania is among the nation’s leading agricultural producers, particularly in fruit and specialty crop sectors vulnerable to rapid spring temperature swings.
The lawmakers requested USDA approval under federal disaster designation authorities that could make affected farmers eligible for emergency loans and other federal assistance programs.
In addition to Fetterman and McCormick, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon, Dan Meuser, Glenn “GT” Thompson, Madeleine Dean, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chrissy Houlahan, Ryan Mackenzie, Summer Lee, Chris Deluzio, Brendan Boyle and Scott Perry.
The delegation asked USDA to expedite review of the request “in accordance with all laws, rules, regulations, and agency policies.”
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