Terhune Orchards navigates tough season as State Legislature considers relief

In mid-April, Terhune Orchards was looking forward to the beginning of another growing season. Within just a few days, though, it lost almost all of its crops when a heat wave was followed by a stretch of freezing temperatures. 

Terhune Orchards, located just five miles from Princeton University, was founded by Gary Mount ’66 and is currently owned by his daughters, Reuwai Mount ’94 and Tannwen Mount ’98. The 250-acre farm grows over 50 different crops, with apples being their largest, and consistently sets up a booth for the Wednesday farmer’s market on campus.

“What happened this season is that the really, really hot days forced everything to bloom at once, which is not what normally happens. And then we had severe freeze, not a frost, a freeze. So we had two nights of low 20 degrees, 22 degrees for a prolonged period,” Tannwen Mount said in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “So we lost 100 percent of our cherry crop, 100 percent of our peaches, 98 percent or maybe more of our Asian pears, 99.7 percent of our apples.”

Days of unseasonably warm temperatures in April, where temperatures reached 90 degrees, caused many crops across the region to bloom early. What followed was a stretch of temperatures in the low 20s. Following the freeze, N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced a state of emergency, citing “sweeping agricultural losses.”

Sherrill requested an emergency designation and federal aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That request was granted, and farmers in all counties across the state, including Mercer County, can now apply for emergency loan assistance through Feb. 8.

“We’re really grateful for the support of the legislators and to look at a relief package for those farmers like us that had such devastating loss,” Tannwen Mount said. 

Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill in the New Jersey Legislature that would provide $60 million in support for farms like Terhune that faced severe crop losses during April. 

Assemblymember Mitchelle Drulis, who represents District 16 in the New Jersey General Assembly, which includes Princeton, told the ‘Prince’ she supports the bill and has asked to be a cosponsor. 

“I am also the prime sponsor of [bill] A1662 which if passed would help our local farm winery license holders who have been impacted by the freeze,” Drulis added. District 16 includes Princeton.

Terhune Orchards also includes a winery and vineyard.

Assemblymember Roy Freiman and State Senator Andrew Zwicker, who both also represent District 16, said they had not yet reviewed the bill, but their offices noted they are supportive of New Jersey farmers.

“New Jersey’s farmers are an essential part of our economy and our communities. We’ve seen how devastating unexpected weather events can be for their livelihoods,” Freiman wrote in a statement to the ‘Prince.’ “We must continue finding ways to help our farmers overcome challenges and keep our agricultural industry thriving.” 

Freiman’s chief of staff added that “generally we are supportive of this type of legislation.” Ayla Rios, Zwicker’s legislative director, wrote that “the Senator is very supportive of NJ farmers” after noting that he has not yet reviewed the newly introduced bills.

Terhune’s pick-your-own apple orchard is typically bustling during the fall. This season, however, it is only offering select days by reservation for the orchard due to the crop loss.

Despite the challenges, they still offer apple products at their farm store. Tannwen Mount said Terhune has apples stored in a specially controlled atmosphere, allowing them to sell some remaining apples that were harvested last season. She added that the orchard has also partnered with some growers in New York to receive apples. 

“We have fresh apples all season long in the farm store, and of course are able to have our famous apple cider donuts and apple cider every day,” Tannwen Mount said. 

In addition to finding solutions to keep the farm store stocked, Terhune has had to find new ways to bring people to the farm without many of their crops and pick-your-own apples. Tannwen Mount noted more year-round festivals, pick-your-own vegetables and fruit, and an extra-large corn maze have helped draw people in throughout the season.

“While the draw of pick-your-own apples is limited this season, we’re not alone in that,” Tannwen Mount said. “This is the season that folks are coming out to enjoy the other fall activities, our great big pumpkin patch that we have, and our corn maze, and all the fall fun on the farm.”

Tannwen Mount said Terhune has been grateful for the community support throughout the season and encouraged people to visit and keep supporting the farm. 

“We’re your local farmers. So, [we] thank the community, the greater Princeton University community, and Princeton community for support,” Tannwen Mount said.

Walker Vivian is a News reporter-in-training for the ‘Prince’ from Maine. 

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.