Late Freeze Damages Specialty Crops Across Mid-Atlantic
A late freeze during the week of April 20, 2026, has caused significant damage to specialty crops across the Mid-Atlantic region. According to Lancaster Farming, the frost affected grape growers from New York to North Carolina, marking one of the worst such events in the past decade. Boordy Vineyards in Baltimore County, Maryland, reported that they employed various methods to mitigate the damage, including applying potassium and copper to strengthen new shoots, lighting fires, and using a helicopter to mix the air. Despite these efforts, only a block of chardonnay and some albarino grapes at higher elevations were saved. Pennsylvania fruit growers have also reported heavy losses, prompting state Rep. Dan Moul to propose a bill that would allow affected farmers to access funds from the Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness program for losses not covered by crop insurance or USDA. 
