Spring in Pennsylvania is always unpredictable, but this year’s weather has delivered a damaging combination of warm temperatures followed by hard freezes and repeated swings between wet, cold and hot conditions.

Across Butler County and throughout the commonwealth, fruit growers are now facing the consequences. Apple orchards, pear trees and vineyards have suffered significant weather-related damage that will likely reduce this year’s harvest and increase prices for consumers later this season.

For many people, a late frost may seem like a minor inconvenience that requires scraping a windshield in the morning. For fruit growers however, one cold night at the wrong time can wipe out an entire year’s work.

The extremes in temperatures this spring caused the apples to bloom about two weeks earlier than usual at Mathias Farm Apples.

Apple blossoms are damaged by temperatures less than 28 F. The first, and most desirable, king blooms were all killed by the 23 degrees Fahrenheit low on April 9. Then temperatures soared and the lateral flowers were in full bloom April 21 and got damaged by the 25 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures that night.

Both of those events were on clear nights, radiational freezes where the warm air escapes because there are no clouds to hold it down.

They attempted to create a layer of smoke with their version of smudge pots to help keep the warm air down at the ground. It helped, but they estimate that they still have lost 80% of their apples and pears. In addition, when the grapes reached bud break in late April, they built about 12 campfires in their vineyard on cold nights to radiate heat to the grapes which are sensitive to temperatures less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This method works on a small scale in the vineyard but is impossible to do effectively in the large orchards.

Overall, they had five events this spring when they were up all night attempting to mitigate temperatures. Even if blossoms are killed and fruit is damaged, they still must take care of the barren trees or vines all year to keep them healthy. The work and expense doesn’t stop, but unfortunately the income does.

That is exactly what many growers across Pennsylvania experienced this spring.

The result is not always immediately visible to the public. Trees may still appear green and healthy from the road, but the fruit-bearing blossoms may already be lost. In vineyards, vines can survive while still producing a much smaller crop than normal.

Farmers are now assessing how much damage occurred, but early reports from across the state suggest that some orchards and vineyards may experience substantial production losses this year.

Unfortunately, growers cannot simply “start over” when weather destroys a crop. Fruit growers invest thousands of dollars and countless hours pruning trees, maintaining vineyards, purchasing fertilizer and crop protection products, hiring labor and preparing equipment long before the first apple or grape is harvested. When frost damage occurs, many of those dollars for those costs have already been spent.

Consumers will likely notice the effects later this year at grocery stores, farm markets, wineries and local orchards. Reduced supply often leads to higher prices. Apples, pears, grape products, juices and wine could all see price increases depending on the severity of crop losses across Pennsylvania and other fruit-producing states.

Availability may also become an issue. Some local orchards may have fewer varieties available for pick-your-own operations or farm market sales. Vineyards may produce fewer grapes, which can impact local wineries and related businesses. Pennsylvania’s fruit industry supports not only farmers, but also processors, transportation companies, tourism operations and seasonal employees.

This situation serves as another reminder of how dependent agriculture is on the weather and how little control farmers truly have over many of the challenges they face. Modern technology, improved management practices and crop insurance programs can help reduce risk, but no farmer can stop a frost or control dramatic temperature swings.

It also highlights the importance of supporting local agriculture whenever possible. Pennsylvania farmers work year-round to provide fresh, safe and locally grown products for consumers. During years with difficult growing conditions, local support becomes even more important. Purchasing from local orchards, wineries and farm markets helps farm families recover from weather-related losses and continue operating for future generations.

As harvest season approaches, consumers may see fewer apples on shelves, smaller pear harvests or tighter supplies of locally grown grapes and wine. Prices may rise and availability may fluctuate. While those impacts can be frustrating, they are also a direct reflection of the risks farmers face every growing season.

Butler County agriculture remains resilient, but this year’s extreme weather is another example of why farming is never guaranteed. Behind every apple, pear or bottle of wine is a farmer hoping that the weather cooperates long enough to bring a crop safely to harvest.

William Thiele is a Butler County dairy farmer and director of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau District 15. John Thompson is a Butler County Farm Bureau member.

Kevin and Linda Mathias are the owners of Mathias Farm Apples.