08/23/2026
You’ve heard a lot about the freeze damage this spring that happened on our farm and across PA. While we are blessed to say we still have some of our crops out there, we are finding more and more ways that it has been negatively impacted by the freeze events from the spring.
This is what we call “frost ring”. This often happens during the early stages of development of an apple when cold temperatures affect it. If it doesn’t die completely to cold temperatures, it can be affected such that it will grow with a deformity of some sort. It is rare to have a year when frost rings do not occur at some level, but you typically see a very small ring right around the calyx of the apple – unnoticeable enough that generally the fruit can still be sold as fresh fruit.
The damage we’re seeing this year is much more along the lines of the photos – and of course, that fruit has no value on the fresh market. If not too bad, we might be able to convert them into sauce or juice. But when your crop is already reduced and a percentage of what is left has no fresh market potential, it’s a bit of a dismal outlook. But, we still have fruit, and for that we are so grateful!
