Following an already challenging year for apple production, the weather will continue to play a major role in yields growers see in 2024. Steve Louis, owner of Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center, says that growers across the country are all at different stages of production. He for example, had had buds break dormancy already this year-marking the earliest he can ever remember.

While the orchard has not yet experienced significant cold damage, he expressed concerns about the potential impact of further drops in temperature. Currently, the buds are at a stage where they can tolerate temperatures as low as 17 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit without damage. However, consecutive nights with temperatures in the low 20s have raised alarms.