Apple shortage hitting home for local farmers - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Apple shortage hitting home for local farmers

By: Liz Tufts

ltufts@abc6.com

     You know the price of gas is through the roof. Now consider this, a gallon of apple cider will cost you twice as much a gallon of gas.  A poor apple crop locally and across the country is behind the skyrocketing prices.

     At Hill Orchards in Johnston, things are pretty bad. The mild weather we had last winter on top of that freeze in April killed off almost half of the crop here. The orchard has been in the hill family for more than a century. 

     But the owner says they may have to sell their land if mother nature deals them another bad hand. "It it went from me making money to me losing money, it makes me sad, so sad, " says Allan Hill.

     Hill says he has enough healthy apples for the picking season, and there's some good news in all of this. The damage on the apples back in April actually forced sugar to develop faster. So this year's crop is very sweet.

     To contact Hill Orchards call, 401-949-2940.