Congressman John Joyce urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on May 18 to issue a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Pennsylvania fruit growers affected by unusually low temperatures in April.
Joyce said the recent freeze has placed significant financial pressure on orchards across his district and could threaten the livelihoods of many farming families. He called for swift federal support to help growers recover and maintain the strength of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry.
“Pennsylvania agriculture is a central component of our rural communities, and fruit growers are now facing devastating losses caused by abnormally low temperatures during a critical point in the growing season,” Joyce said. “This freeze has placed an extraordinary financial burden on orchards across our district and threatens the livelihoods of countless farming families. The USDA must act swiftly to provide growers with the resources and support they need to recover, safeguard their operations, and preserve the long-term strength of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry.”
According to estimates from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, specialty crop producers in Pennsylvania could face between $150 million and $200 million in economic losses as a result of this late April freeze, which may impact family farms, rural jobs, and local food supply chains.
Joyce was joined by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Madeleine Dean, Glenn Thompson, Rob Bresnahan, Lloyd Smucker, Mike Kelly, and Chris Deluzio in sending a letter requesting assistance for affected growers.
John Joyce is currently serving in Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 13th district; he began his term in 2019 after replacing Bill Shuster according to Wikipedia.
