Utah’s Fruit Way Farmers Need Your Support Due to Crop Loss From Early Spring & Freeze
Updated: May 20
Every summer and fall, families from across Utah make the drive along Utah’s Famous Fruit Way on Old Highway 89 to buy peaches, cherries, apples, pears, raspberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, jams, honey, and fresh local produce directly from the people who grow it.
This year, supporting fruit farmers matters more than ever
After having the warmest winter in 131 years, blossoms on growers’ tart and sweet cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, and pears were all approximately 3-4 weeks early, leaving them vulnerable to Utah’s typically volatile April weather.
An unusually early spring followed by repeated freezes damaged blossoms across many orchards and farms throughout Northern Utah. For many growers, that will mean little to no harvest and fewer crops to sell this season.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has created the Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Program to help Utah farmers and agricultural producers who experienced crop losses due to declared disasters, including severe spring freezes.
This program provides low-interest loans to help farmers recover from extraordinary losses and continue operating after difficult growing seasons.
Farmers can apply through the Utah Conservation Commission, and the loans are designed to help cover financial challenges caused by disaster-related production losses. However, it is important to understand that this assistance is a loan, not a grant, meaning the funds must be repaid over time.
Community can make a real difference: Show up for the Farmers
Behind every fruit stand is a family that has spent years, if not generations, caring for orchards, watching weather patterns, irrigating fields, pruning trees, and hoping the season cooperates.
Community support can help Utah’s fruit farmers weather a difficult season and keep these multigenerational orchards alive for the future.
When you go to the grocery store and walk through the produce aisles think about the farmers. Consider purchasing directly from Utah farmers instead of only buying produce at the grocery store. Take a drive with the family or friends out the Fruit Way and support the farmers.
Even if harvests are smaller, your visit matters both monetarily and psychologically. Every purchase helps local families preserve agricultural land, strengthen rural communities, and keep Utah’s farming traditions alive for future generations.
Why are the fruit orchards important to Utah
Fruit orchards are especially important in Utah for several reasons — economically, environmentally, culturally, and even emotionally for many communities.
Food & Local Agriculture
Utah orchards produce cherries, peaches, apples, apricots, pears, and other fruits adapted to the state’s unique climate. Local orchards help:
strengthen regional food security,
reduce dependence on imported produce,
support farmers and rural economies,
and preserve agricultural land from development.
Areas like Brigham City, Payson, and Santaquin are especially known for fruit production and harvest traditions.
Water & Land Stewardship
Well-managed orchards can help:
stabilize soil,
reduce erosion,
provide habitat for pollinators and birds,
and keep land permeable so water can infiltrate into soils rather than becoming runoff.
In rapidly developing parts of Utah, orchards also act as a buffer against complete urbanization.
Economy & Tourism
Utah orchards support family farms, seasonal jobs, farmers markets, local restaurants, agritourism, fruit stands, cider and jam businesses, and community festivals. For example, Brigham City Peach Days celebrates Utah’s orchard heritage and draws large crowds every year.
Heritage & Identity
Many orchards in Utah have been family-run for generations. They are tied deeply to the history of settlement and irrigation in the Mountain West. Losing orchards often means losing open space, local knowledge, historic esablished trees, and a visible connection to Utah’s agricultural roots.
Environmental Resilience
Trees also provide environmental benefits including cooling shade, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and improved air quality. In a hotter, drier future, protecting productive agricultural land becomes increasingly important.
That’s why crop losses from late freezes or droughts can hit Utah communities hard, not just financially, but culturally and environmentally as well.
So, Utahns — it’s time to show up for our farmers.
Find a fruit stand on the Famous Fruit Way
Take a drive along Old Highway 89. Stop at the roadside stands. Visit the orchards. Buy whatever they have available this season. Bring back enough for your neighbors or people in need. Buy as much as you can.
Let the farmers know you appreciate the work they do and that we value our local growers. The Fruit Way is more than a place to buy produce. It is part of Utah’s heritage, landscape, and community.
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