Harrisburg, PA ‒ Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, joined Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at Three Springs Fruit Farm in Aspers today to announce that $10 million in disaster assistance will soon be available to fruit growers impacted by the April freeze.

According to the PA Department of Agriculture, many farmers reported a “near total crop loss in apples, and serious impacts to peach, cherry, strawberry and grape yields.”

“When the freeze occurred, it sent shockwaves through the fruit belt that passes through Adams County,” said Moul. “To those of us standing here today, it was clear something had to be done to protect our fruit farmers and the fruit industry in Pennsylvania. What we are announcing today is the result of sheer determination and teamwork.”

The governor announced that beginning Aug. 22, eligible farmers in 58 counties will be able to apply for Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants to help cover crop losses caused by the freeze. For more information and to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/4xJ9IKg. The application period will run through Sept. 21.

Following the application deadline, the Department of Agriculture will review the applications and allocate funding on a per-acre basis, taking into consideration the number of applicants and amount of available funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also answered Pennsylvania’s call for federal disaster assistance, which will enable eligible growers in the 58 counties to seek low-interest loans to restore their operations and receive expedited damage assessments needed to finalize federal crop insurance claims.