Jon Clements Predicts a Strong 2026 Apple Crop in 'The Bloston Globe'
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Jon Clements, the extension fruit team leader within the College of Natural Sciences's Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, recently told The Boston Globe that New England's apple crop is shaping up to be a strong one, despite concerns caused by an early-spring freeze. Clements's interview with the Globe is found within an article listing some prime spots to go apple picking this year.
While growers may not see a "bumper crop" (a large yield) this year, Clements expects plenty of apples to go around as pick-your-own season gets underway in September. He notes that growers often worry early in the season about potential losses, only to be surprised by how much fruit remains on the trees by late summer. For apple lovers, that means a promising fall season ahead, with opportunities to enjoy both familiar favorites and an increasingly diverse range of varieties.
"'Right now, the apple crop looks pretty outstanding for most growers,’' said Jon Clements, Extension Tree Fruit Specialist at the University of Massachusetts. An early spring freeze worried some growers, and Clements said that while it’s not a bumper year, the bounty will be sufficient for most. 'We always panic,’' he said, 'and then by the time August rolls around, it’s like, wow, where’d all those apples come from?'"
— The Boston Globe
Click here to read the Boston Globe article. Or, if you have access to UMass Amherst Libraries, you can read Boston Globe articles through ProQuest.