Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed an executive order declaring a 30-day state of emergency across 10 counties after back-to-back freeze events in April caused widespread fruit crop losses. Freezing temperatures hit on April 3, 4, 17, and 18, damaging crops across Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, and several other counties — a broad swath of the state's agricultural heartland.
This declaration is significant because Utah is a meaningful domestic source of stone fruit and tree fruit during summer months. Growers who already absorbed losses from last year's difficult conditions are now facing another crushing season, and the emergency status unlocks potential federal and state aid pathways.
For buyers, this compounds supply pressure already building from San Joaquin cherry losses and a lighter Northwest cherry crop. Summer stone fruit promotions may need to be adjusted early, and pricing could firm up faster than expected as multiple growing regions report damage simultaneously.