Eastern Panhandle Farmers Face Severe Crop Losses After Freezing Temperatures
Farmers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia are grappling with significant crop losses following two nights of freezing temperatures in April 2026. According to local orchardists, temperatures dropped to as low as 21°F (-6°C), devastating fruit crops such as peaches, cherries, and apples. Eli Cook of Spring Valley Farms reported that despite efforts like using wind machines and fires to protect crops, only a small percentage of their orchard yield survived. Similarly, Katie Orr-Dove of Orr’s Farm Market in Martinsburg noted losses of strawberries, cherries, and peaches, with only 40% of their blueberry crop remaining. This comes on the heels of three consecutive years of drought conditions in the region, compounding challenges for farmers. 
