The impact of drought on the 2025 fruit harvest
Apples and pumpkins grown at the Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Champaign. Reginald Hardwick/IPM News
You might be planning a trip to your local orchard or pumpkin patch. But severe drought conditions in Champaign County and other parts of Illinois could affect what fruit is available this fall. The Weather Realness podcast team spoke with Randy Graham, president and co-owner of the Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Champaign about what his harvest looked like this year. The orchard grows 26 different types of apples.
Interview by Maddie Stover, doctoral student in physics and Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist at the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute.
Funding for Weather Realness is partially provided by the Backlund Charitable Trust. If you have a weather or climate question for the scientists on this program, please leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141 or email weatherrealness@illinois.edu.
