Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after state officials determined an April cold snap could cost New Jersey farmers $300 million in destroyed crops.
A freeze affected much of the state between April 19 and April 22, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture determined that much of the state faces 30% crop loss, with some farmers reporting near 100% loss of certain crops. The state of emergency allows the state to centralize its response to the crop failures, as well as grant the agricultural sector “temporary regulatory flexibility.”
“New Jersey’s agricultural sector is a vital engine of our economy; it is the very reason we bear the name the Garden State. The April freeze caused serious damage to our growers, and those losses demand decisive action,” Sherrill said. “This executive order mobilizes a whole-of-government recovery effort out of Trenton, cutting through bureaucracy and accelerating results for impacted farmers and families. Our farming families are hurting, and I won’t stand by and let it happen.”
Sherrill also requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday. A disaster designation could unlock federal relief funds for the state, which the governor said is needed for vulnerable growers.
“This freeze was unlike anything our growers have experienced in decades, and the damage is staggering,” Senator Cory Booker said. “An entire season of peaches, apples, and grapes were almost entirely decimated in a matter of hours. Many other fruits are also suffering significant losses. New Jersey farmers urgently need federal support to recover from this disaster, and swift approval of the state’s disaster designation request is an essential first step to helping them rebuild.”
The cold snap especially impacted fruit trees. The freeze was preceded by a warm spell for much of the state, leading to earlier flowering than is typical. Officials called on New Jerseyans to continue buying crops from local farmers.
“Governor Sherrill’s declaration of a State of Emergency sends a clear message that New Jersey stands behind its farming community in the wake of the April freeze,” said Ed Wengryn, the New Jersey secretary of agriculture. “This executive order cuts through bureaucracy and opens the door to immediate assistance for our tree fruit and berry growers, while laying the groundwork for broader relief ahead.”