Every fall, one of our favorite parts of the season is packing up our apples and sending them to your homes and tables. This year, that tradition is on pause, and we wanted to explain why. This spring, during bloom, a series of late freezes swept across the East Coast, including our orchards here in Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties, Virginia. When the damage was assessed, we had lost about three-quarters of this year's crop.
Why a Late Freeze Does So Much Damage
Apple trees spend all winter dormant and protected from the cold. But once they break dormancy and bloom in spring, that protection disappears. An open blossom is remarkably fragile and a swing of just a few degrees during that narrow window can be the difference between a blossom that goes on to become an apple and one that doesn't survive at all. That's what makes a late freeze so much more damaging than an ordinary winter cold snap: it hits right when the trees are most exposed, at the exact moment they're setting up the whole year's crop.
Appearance vs. Quality: What “Damage” Actually Means
Not every apple that survived a freeze comes through unmarked. Cold temperatures during and just after bloom can cause the skin of a developing apple to scar or russet as it grows, leaving the fruit smaller or less uniform than usual on the outside. Here's the part worth understanding: that kind of damage is cosmetic. It doesn't reach the flesh, and it doesn't affect taste or quality. But it does mean the fruit no longer meets the appearance standard we hold gift box apples to, which is exactly why we've made the call we have.
What This Means for Gift Boxes This Season
Because of our commitment to sending out only premium-grade fruit, we won't be offering gift box sales this season. We refuse to compromise on the standard you've come to expect from us. To be clear, we're not going anywhere. Much of what we were able to save is heading toward processing for juices, sauces, and more, so the fruit isn't going to waste. It's simply not gift-box-presentable this year.
Looking Ahead to 2027
We're already preparing for next year's crop, and we're hopeful for a strong recovery. Apple trees are resilient, and so is the Shenandoah Valley Orchards family. Thank you for your patience and your continued support of our farm. We're grateful for you, and we're looking forward to welcoming you back for the 2027 gift box season.