ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Fruit farmers in New York are hoping the federal government will provide financial support after crop losses.

The New York State Farm Service Agency is officially requesting Agricultural Disaster Designation. As harvest season approaches, farmers are seeing the scope of the damage left behind from a deep freeze in May. Grapes and apple crops were hit the hardest, though strawberry, peach, pear, plum, blueberry, apricot, cherry, and cranberry crops were all affected. The most heavily impacted areas have seen as much as a 95% crop loss. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve emergency federal funding for 31 counties across Upstate New York, including Tompkins, Cortland, Tioga, Cayuga, Broome, Chemung, Onondaga, Seneca, Schuyler, and Steuben.

“Upstate New York’s vineyards and orchards are the beating heart of our agricultural and tourism economy, but now as harvest season begins, we are beginning to see the severe impacts of this past May’s deep freeze,” said Senator Schumer. “We can’t leave New York’s beautiful orchards and renowned wine country out in the cold.”

Should the USDA approve the disaster application, it would unlock emergency relief including low-interest loans that could be used to restore or replace essential property, pay production costs, pay essential family living expenses, or reorganize farming. According to Empire State Development, New York is the third largest producer of grapes, grape juice, and wine in the country and is also the second largest producer of apples. Those crops account for more than $11 billion in economic impact each year and employ nearly 100,000 New Yorkers.