- Utah's unusual spring threatened fruit crops across the state.
- Late frosts killed blossoms and young fruit, causing widespread losses for growers.
- Gov. Spencer Cox declared emergency for 10 counties; farmers face 95-100% fruit crop losses.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's odd spring, featuring June-like warmth in March followed by cold snaps in April and May, is likely to produce what one expert calls a "fruit famine" across the state.
Late-season frosts like the ones reported across the state multiple times over the past few weeks create a high risk for fruit crop loss, said Ben Scow, a horticulturist for Utah State University Extension. Temperatures dropped low enough to kill blossoms and newly setting fruit, he explains.
Thus, he expects there will be a widespread crop loss for many growers and homeowners this year.
"This is unfortunate because we grow some amazing fruit across the state," he said in a statement Friday. "This year we're just going to have very, very little."
Gov. Spencer Cox issued an emergency declaration over the deep freezes on May 15, which applied to 10 counties that experienced late-winter freezes in April. Another system producing sub-freezing overnight temperatures to places like Cedar City passed through shortly after it was issued.
It was a quick reversal from the record warmth in March, which started the growing season early.
The cold snap was a "punch to the gut," killing off most of the produce grown at Manning Orchards in Davis County, Chris Healey, the farm's operations manager, told KSL last month. Pyne Farms in Utah County experienced something similar, resulting in a complete crop failure.
"We're not going to take anything. Nothing," said Kent Pyne, the farm's owner.
Losses of 95% to 100% were reported from farmers who produce apricots, sweet and tart cherries, plums, peaches, pears and apples, according to the state. Cox's declaration opened new resources for farmers impacted by the late freezes.
This could impact what people see at local markets this year, Utah Farm Bureau officials noted.
What's less clear is the impact it had on people who grow food in their yards, though Scow anticipates it's probably just as bad. Regardless, he says homeowners should continue regular fruit tree care practices this summer, even if there isn't much to show for it in the end.
That includes proper watering, fertilization and pest monitoring, all of which remain important to support next year's crop, should next spring be a little more normal.
Scow recommends that people:
- Reduce nitrogen fertilizer applications, which helps avoid excessive vegetative growth.
- Reduce watering slightly, but not enough for trees to become drought-stressed.
- Treat stone fruits (peaches, apricots, cherries and plums) for peach twig borer. People who normally grow apples and pears don't need to spray for codling moth because of the lack of fruit anticipated.
The cold snap also followed a record-low snowpack, which sparked an emergency order over the state's drought and water shortages.
Utah's farmers hope next year will be more fruitful.
"I know that not every year is like this," Pyne said. "We just make the best of a bad situation."
