Apple Crisis! Can science save your favorite fruit?

Scientists are racing to protect apples from the climate crisis. Extreme weather, including sudden temperature swings and drought, is hurting orchards. Terence Robinson, a professor at Cornell University, calls one disaster the “Valentine’s Day Massacre.” The name does not refer to a crime, but to weather. In 2015, a warm spell tricked apple trees into blooming early. Then a deep freeze killed the blossoms. The result was a massive loss of apples across the north-eastern United States. Now, experts like Robinson are working to make apple trees stronger. They are studying how to help the trees survive sudden heat, cold, and lack of water. Their goal is to keep apples available and affordable for everyone.