Colorado Frost Fallout: What Happened to Palisade Peaches

The spring bloom in Palisade, Colorado, sure came early in 2026. It was pretty exciting to see the orchards come to life so early in March, but as soon as we noticed the blossoms, we were already worrying. What about the April frosts?

The Grand Valley experienced two separate frosts in April when temperatures dropped below freezing, threatening peach and cherry trees. While the damage is still being assessed, Palisade did far better than farmers near Paonia, Hotchkiss, or Rogers Mesa, where entire crops were destroyed. Here’s a closer look at what happened.

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What April’s Freeze Looked Like Across the Grand Valley

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The first of two April freezes hit Palisade early in the month on the 3^rd and 4^th. A deeper freeze arrived on April 17 and 18. Palisade crops endured temperatures near 27 to 28 degrees overnight on the 18th, requiring wind machines, irrigation, and fire heat to protect blossoms. Just a brief exposure to freezing temperatures can kill the blossoms before the fruit forms.

Verified Orchard Reports Show Mixed Damage

The key takeaway is that Palisade did not report total crop failure. The damage was partial and variable. ColoradoFreshFruit.com is a great source to follow for more information as the situation develops. The following orchards in Palisade have been some of the first to come forward to discuss damage following the April freeze:

Talbott Farms in Palisade (Mesa County, Colorado) reports 30% of fruit trees showed damage, but expects about 70% of trees to reach production.

Sanders Family Orchards / Palisade Peach Shack reports 10% crop loss (majority of fruit saved). Nearly 100 campfires across orchard rows helped keep blossoms warm during the freeze.

What This Means for Peach Lovers in Colorado

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Farmers will be able to get a much better read on the peach crop about 3 weeks following the freeze. If losses hold in the 10–30% range, shoppers may see slightly higher prices and tighter supply, but not a wiped-out season. Final crop size will depend on fruit set over the next few weeks. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Peach Fest this summer.