06/09/2026
This year, there was an unpredictable frost in late April that devastated a large majority of our local fruit crops. This will impact not only our local growers, but also processors, producers, and many others here in Adams and Franklin counties. Many of our farmers have not seen damage to this extent in living memory, and the repercussions will be impossible to ignore. All in all, this is an undoubtedly a difficult year…but that doesn’t mean we can’t band together as a community and do our best to support our growers.
Penn State Extension has talked with many local growers to write an in-depth review of the frost, its impact, and what we can expect going into harvest season, which we urge you to read to better understand the state of our local agriculture this year, as well as how it will impact farmers down the road: https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/pennsylvania-fruit-growers-face-catastrophic-losses-after-historic
This also unfortunately means that gleaning opportunities this summer will be affected as well. We will still do all that we can to rescue as much delicious and nutritious excess produce for our neighbors and urge all backyard growers to consider donating their excess to TGP. It’s not too late to plant some extra produce to donate for your neighbors facing food insecurity!
Also, if you are in a place to support local farm markets, please do so! Farm stands may not have what we are typically used to, especially lacking of stone fruits and others this year, but there will still be delicious and nutritious offerings from our hard working growers that are worth buying! Many local farm markets can be found listed here:
Adams: https://www.adamsfoodpolicy.org/local-goods
Franklin: https://www.explorefranklincountypa.com/franklin-fresh/
We are also so thankful to be a Feeding America partner through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, helping us keep our produce stand stocked with excess produce from our local grocery stores.
Things may look different than before as we adjust to the continuous changes life is throwing at us, but our mission to make good use of agricultural excess, reducing food insecurity and improving community health, and connecting our community still lies at the core of all that we do here at The Gleaning Project!
