Greek peach farmers are on the brink of crisis as looming tariffs from the Trump administration threaten to devastate their livelihoods and the nation’s economy. Harvest season, typically a time of celebration in Macedonia, is now overshadowed by anxiety and uncertainty, with farmers bracing for a potential 30% tariff on nearly all imports to the U.S., set to take effect on August 1st.

Currently, Greek peaches face a 17% duty, but this could skyrocket to a staggering 47% if the tariffs are implemented. “It came to us in the middle of the production period… a great shock,” lamented one farmer, highlighting the turmoil that has gripped the industry for the past six months since Trump took office. With the U.S. market for Greek peach products valued at over half a billion dollars, the impact of these tariffs could be catastrophic, particularly for the peach sector, which is already struggling under stagnant prices that have remained unchanged for two decades.

More than 20,000 families in Macedonia depend on peach farming, and as the deadline looms, their hopes hang by a thread. Farmers are left anxiously watching for any sign of negotiation or change, recalling that many of Trump’s previous tariff deadlines have been delayed or suspended. “We hope that because Trump’s unpredictable, he’ll change this decision,” said a concerned grower.

As the clock ticks down to August 1st, the fate of Greece’s peach industry—and the families that rely on it—hangs in the balance. The stakes couldn’t be higher as farmers cling to hope amidst the chaos, praying for a last-minute reprieve from the impending economic storm.