Shapiro administration showcases $3M investment in Pa.’s apple industry

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding on Thursday touted a $3 million investment in Pennsylvania’s apple industry that addressed both a fruit surplus and food insecurity across the state.

Speaking at Knouse Foods plant in Adams County, Redding said $2 million in state funds and an additional $1 million in federal funds was used last year to bring excess fruit products to needy children and families.

Favorable weather in 2023 meant Pennsylvania had an overabundance of apples with no place to go. The Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System, believed to be the first program of its kind, reimburses farmers and agribusinesses for the costs of harvesting, processing, packaging and transporting surplus food to 13 food distributors which serve food pantries around the state.

“This is the most significant single investment in the PASS program,” Redding said.

Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania, a statewide association of nine food banks, said apples are the top fresh fruit in the PASS program.

“Food prices are still at all time high, so the charitable food network is a lifeline,“ said Bancroft.

“This collaborative processing project exemplifies the responsiveness of PASS to Pennsylvania’s agricultural community and charitable food network.”

PASS is on track to distribute more than five million pounds of food in 2023-24, the agency said. An estimated 1.2 million Pennsylvanians, 325,000 of them children, are experiencing food insecurity.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget calls for an additional $1 million for the PASS program in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Pennsylvania is the nation’s fourth largest apple producing state and Adams County is the heart of the commonwealth’s “fruit belt,” with 14,000 acres of apples, peaches and cherries.

Knouse Foods, a grower-owned cooperative, makes Musselman’s and Lucky Leaf products, including apple juice, apple sauce and pie filling.