A devastating combination of early warm weather, fire blight, and pests has triggered a historically low harvest for Sonoma County’s iconic Gravenstein apples. According to the Press Democrat, local orchards like Hale’s Apple Farm report yields down to just three percent of their normal average, forcing early closures on direct sales right before this weekend’s Gravenstein Apple Fair. The crisis is compounded by long-term industry struggles, including the recent loss of regional buyer contracts and the upcoming closure of the county’s last local processing plant. While small relief initiatives and a new press planned for Santa Rosa offer a glimmer of hope, growers warn that high costs and dwindling crops threaten the future of the region’s heirloom apple heritage. Local officials and farmers urge the community to support remaining growers at the upcoming fair in Sebastopol.