The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has issued Manager’s Bulletin MGR-26-006.2, providing additional emergency loss adjustment procedures for fresh apples with Fresh Fruit Quality Adjustment (FFQA) coverage that were damaged by the late April 2026 freeze.

The bulletin applies to affected producers in Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and is intended to help accelerate claim processing and indemnity payments.

Under the emergency procedures, Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) may finalize eligible claims before final crop disposition based on a signed certification from the insured. Producers who use this option must:

  • Notify their AIP if appraised acreage is later harvested.
  • Submit acceptable verifiable production records within 30 days of final crop disposition.
  • Acknowledge that failure to provide required records, or production exceeding the appraised amount under applicable policy provisions, may result in a corrected claim and repayment of any overpaid indemnity.

The bulletin also reminds adjusters that separate appraisal worksheets are still required when significant damage differences exist among apple varieties within the same unit or block.