Researchers and farmers are using heritage varieties and modern methods to protect apples from climate change as weather patterns become more unpredictable.
Apple farmers and scientists are racing to protect their orchards as climate change brings unpredictable weather patterns. The $5 billion U.S. apple industry faces mounting challenges, with some farmers reporting crop losses of up to 40% during extreme weather events.
This crisis has led researchers in Michigan to look for a method to protect apples from climate change. They studied a native wild apple tree that naturally blooms later in spring, potentially offering protection against frost damage. This adaptation could help protect apples from climate change impacts that threaten entire orchards. While Malus coronaria was once common enough to become Michigan’s state flower in 1897, finding these trees today isn’t easy. Many former tree locations are now covered by parking lots and shopping centers.
Michigan State University professor Steve van Nocker leads the search for these elusive native trees. Though they produce small, bitter green apples that most people wouldn’t want to eat, their genes could help create frost-resistant versions of popular apple varieties.
Recent research from Washington State University reveals concerning changes in major apple-growing regions. The top three apple-producing states – Washington, Michigan, and New York – are experiencing fewer cold days in winter, warmer nights in fall, and more extreme heat in Washington state. These changes can cause problems when trees bloom too early or suffer from sun damage. In May 2023, an unexpected frost cut New York’s apple production by 20 percent, leading to a 15% increase in wholesale prices.
Sarah Martinez, a third-generation apple farmer in Washington state, reports that her farm lost half of its Honeycrisp crop to sunscald the previous year. While insurance provides some coverage, she notes it doesn’t compensate for all losses. The farm has begun investing in shade cloth and other protective measures, though Martinez points out these solutions come at a significant cost and don’t really do much to protect apples from climate change. She estimates spending more than $50,000 over three years to shield her apple crops from climate change impacts. Martinez expresses concern that weather-related challenges pose an existential threat to small farming operations like hers, which typically operate with minimal profit margins.
Scientists are testing several innovative approaches to protect apple crops. European and South Korean farmers are installing special solar panels in their orchards that shield fruit from hail and excessive sun while still allowing necessary light and heat to reach the trees. At Penn State University, researchers created a self-driving vehicle with a propane heater that can move through orchards automatically, warming trees when temperatures drop too low. The University of Maryland recently developed a new apple variety that can better handle hot weather.
Creating climate-resistant apple varieties takes time and patience. When scientists cross-breed the native Malus coronaria with commercial apple trees, the new trees need 4-5 years before they produce fruit. This process must be repeated multiple times to get the right combination of traits. Van Nocker’s team collects small branches from wild trees they find, tests these samples to confirm they’re pure Malus coronaria and not hybrid trees, and then grafts the branches onto existing apple tree roots to grow identical copies of the original trees.
The U.S. apple industry supports over 100,000 jobs and generates roughly $5 billion annually in wholesale value. When severe weather damages crops, the effects ripple through the entire supply chain. Consumers typically see price increases of 10-30% following major crop losses. Some apple varieties might become harder to find in certain seasons.
The solar panel solution could also help farmers reduce water use in orchards, which matters because climate change is expected to make water resources more scarce in many farming regions. Cornell University’s Hudson Valley Research Lab is already testing solar panels in their experimental orchard. This technology could help protect apples not just from frost, but from multiple types of weather damage.
While it takes many years to develop new apple varieties, protective measures like solar panels and heating systems can help farmers deal with immediate climate challenges. Scientists are learning important lessons from wild species like Malus coronaria, which have adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. Their survival strategies could help commercial orchards become more resilient.
The preservation of wild apple species matters for future food security. As climate patterns continue to shift, having a diverse genetic library of apple trees could help farmers adapt to new conditions. Van Nocker’s team is sending seeds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to preserve the species, ensuring these valuable genetic resources aren’t lost as wild populations continue to decline.
