A method for systemically mitigating environmental stress from heat or radiation on a fruit plant and the pre-harvested fruit thereof is disclosed, wherein the method comprises the steps of:(i) preparing an agricultural composition wherein said composition comprises an active selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer, C1-C4 alkyl ether of ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer, alkylpolyglycoside, and mixtures thereof and (ii) intimately contacting root zone soil of the soil in which the fruit plant is growing with a bioefficaciously effective amount of said agricultural composition to systemically mitigate environmental stress on the plant and the pre-harvested fruit thereof from heat or radiation impacting the surface of the plant or fruit above the surface of the soil. The method may further comprise the additional step of: applying a climate-ameliorating product to the plant and/or pre-harvested fruit that reduces the amount of heat and/or radiation impacting the surface of the plant or fruit above the surface of the soil, wherein the most effective measures include evaporative cooling with water, and the use of sunburn protective coatings also known as particle film technology (PFT), bagging, reflective fabric, and shade netting. The method is especially bioefficacious on crops such as apples and grapes, an is also very useful in all crops where heat stress and/or sunburn may impact plant productivity and fruit quality, which include citrus fruits (including oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit), solanaceous plants (including tomatoes and peppers), cucurbits (including cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, rock melon, honeydew melon, watermelon, and cantaloupe), stone fruits (such as peaches, cherries, nectarines, almonds, and plums), strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and olives and tropical crop such as avocados, bananas, mangos, and pineapple.
