Orchards Face ‘Torturous’ Year as Climate and Costs Squeeze US Farmers

A Season of Unprecedented Challenges

For many apple orchard owners across the United States, 2026 has been a year defined by struggle. A series of deep freezes during the spring bloom period decimated crops across a wide geographic swath, stretching from the Midwest to the Northeast. For farmers who rely heavily on the autumn harvest and the seasonal influx of apple-picking tourists, the impact has been severe.

Kurt Alstede, a first-generation farmer in New Jersey, described the current state of his operations as “torturous.” According to Alstede, the combination of environmental setbacks and economic pressures has made the year exceptionally difficult, leading many in the industry to look past the current season in hopes of a better 2027.

The Economic Burden on Growers

The agricultural sector is facing a mounting financial crisis. Data from the American Farm Bureau Federation indicates that the cost of operating a farm has surged by nearly 44% since 2018. This inflation in operational expenses is compounded by a record-breaking debt load for farmers, with 2026 forecasts suggesting total debt could reach $605 billion. For operators like Alstede, who rely on variable-rate loans, the situation is further complicated by fluctuating interest rates, leaving them vulnerable to broader economic shifts.

C.J. Walke, the orchard program manager at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, noted that the frequency of extreme weather events is changing. Previously, temperatures dipping below 25 degrees during the bloom period were rare, but Walke observed that such events now appear to be occurring with alarming regularity every few years.

Adapting Through Diversification and Entertainment

In response to the crop failures, many orchards have been forced to innovate or face closure. Some have pivoted by diversifying their offerings, moving beyond simple fruit production to include vegetable patches, pumpkin picking, and event-based programming. At Fishkill Farms in New York, owner-operator Josh Morgenthau reported losing all of his cherries and roughly 90% of his peaches and nectarines to the spring freeze, with only 60% of the apple crop remaining viable.

To mitigate these losses, Fishkill Farms leaned into non-traditional revenue streams, such as live music, wagon rides, and festivals. Morgenthau credited these additions with preventing a total seasonal collapse, describing the outcome as the “best bad season possible.” Furthermore, the farm has diversified its crop portfolio to include strawberries, blueberries, and pears, which helps protect the business from a total failure if one specific fruit season is compromised.

The Reality for Smaller Operations

While larger farms have the capacity to pivot, smaller or hobby-focused operations face different hurdles. Monte Marti, owner of Big Apple Orchard in Iowa, chose to close his orchard for the season after losing nearly his entire apple crop in April. For Marti, the orchard functions as a community-focused hobby rather than a primary commercial enterprise, and he remains optimistic that the coming year will bring a return to normalcy.

Despite the grim outlook for many, experts remain hopeful about the resilience of the industry. Jared Buono, director of Cornell’s Hudson Valley Research Lab, emphasized that the art of the orchard remains vital. He encouraged consumers to support their local growers, noting that despite the current economic and environmental pressures, the innovation and dedication of farmers ensure that the industry is not going anywhere.

Source: businessinsider.com