April Freeze Devastates Colorado North Fork Valley Orchards, Forcing Farms to Rebuild

An unseasonable April freeze wiped out this year’s fruit harvest in Colorado’s North Fork Valley, leaving growers like First Fruits with no crops and forcing continued irrigation and maintenance while packing sheds and seasonal workers face layoffs or reallocation. Some operations pivot to value-added products (juice, jams) or agritourism, but losses—estimated around $15 million—strain wholesale, markets and tourism. Disaster aid and recovery efforts are underway as communities work to rebound for next spring.