Traverse city and leelanau county, michigan this summer i took a jaunt to the beautiful shores of northern michigan with a pack of food writers and dietitians to see how cherries tart cherries, to be precise are grown, harvested, and sent to market. Spring drives on the old mission peninsula in michigan. Cherry orchards line the eastern shore of lake michigan from benton harbor to the traverse city area. According to bob, a cherry connoisseur in the torch lake area, it is northern michigan s best cherry. You can load the map to see all places where to pick sour cherries in michigan, mi for a better overview and navigation. The states tart cherry production is forecast to be 60 percent bigger from last year, at 264 million pounds. Cherry shaking season is here in michigan and that means cherries throughout the northern part of the state are ripe and ready to be picked off the tree. Local cherries are the gems of the northern michigan summer. If you find a cherry in a store that looks black but has some red tint to it, then you dont have a michigan black cherry. It is a cross between the varieties schmidt and lambert. With locations in beulah and benzonia michigan, the cherry hut serves up memories daily. We are just 35 minutes north of traverse city and 45 minutes south of petoskey, offering two farm markets for convenient pick your own fruit from practically anywhere in northern michigan.
May 05, 2020 east michigan fruit update may 5, 2020 published on may 5, 2020. The specific region of northern michigan known for tart cherry production is referred to as the traverse bay region. Strawberry season started in february in florida, texas, southern california. Traverse city tourism officials recommend driving m37, a state highway that runs the length of the peninsula, for views of grand traverse bay and vineyards, along with the famous cherry trees.
Im strictly a northern michigan girl,go south and there are just too many people. Filter by subregion or select one of upick fruits, vegetables, berries. We recently took a field trip to amos orchards in northern michigan to see where it all begins. Michigan cherry crop forecast a little too tart for. Located in the heart of michigans famed cherry growing region with hills over looking torch lake and lake michigans grand traverse bay, there are spectacular views throughout the orchard. A summer of despair for michigans cherry growers bridge.
Ap the national cherry festival, a major northern michigan summer destination for decades, has been canceled for 2020 due to uncertainty over the coronavirus, organizers. A drive up 641 winds through stunning cherry orchards and features some shimmering glimpses of lake leelanau. It allows the states west coast to grow outstanding cherries, from traverse city south to the state border. East michigan fruit update may 5, 2020 published on may 5, 2020. Cherry harvest in northern michigan grand traverse pie. Find 6 listings related to cherry growers in traverse city on. One of the best varieties is the michigan black cherry. A cherry blossom tour is a great way to spend an afternoon. We use these ruby red morsels of joy in over 200 cherry products like salsas, chocolate covered cherries, cherry nut mixes, and much more. The northern michigan agricultural report by andrew l. There is freeze damage to many fruits from cold temperatures on april 22.
The deliciousness dates back to the 1950s, when vernon bardenhagen planted the first cherry tree on his familys land, bardenhagen farms, which has. One of the most scenic cherry blossom drives is north on county road 641 from m72. Pick your own upick sour cherries farms, patches and orchards in michigan, mi. In fact, we grow 75% of the countrys variety of mighty montmorency cherries. Northern michigan is the big gorilla when it comes to cherries, says brad wendzel of coloma frozen foods. According to michigan state university, peak cherry season is the 3rd week of july, although i searched my pictures and in 2010 i picked sweet cherries in grant on june 27. More cold temperatures are expected over the weekend. As this years crop of luscious, sweet, red cherries fill grocery store produce departments and farm stands, we want everyone to know that extra precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of covid19 among the.
Michigan s cherry production is about 250 million pounds, and represents about 75 percent of the tart cherries and 20 percent of the sweet cherries grown annually in the united states. Northern s growers and warehouses are food safety certified by usda, sqf andor global gap food safety programs. Annual cherry festival in traverse city canceled for 2020. The cherry hut a northern michigan tradition since 1922. Apr 02, 2019 after a long winter, the sight of cherry blossoms is tonic for the soul.
Michigan s cherry industry is highly vulnerable to a late spring frost, which can wipe out a season s harvest. Whether its sharing tips on food and beer pairings or exploring a beautiful trail, local experts will help you learn something new or experience the best of northern michigan. Apr 16, 2020 a rendering of coronavirus via the cdc. According to bob, a cherry connoisseur in the torch lake area, it is northern michigans best cherry. It shows a wide range of availability because the season for fruits and vegetables. In northern michigan, cherries love the gravelly soil of the old mission peninsula and so do tourists. Cherry harvest in northern michigan grand traverse pie company.
This video outlines our montmorency tart cherry season from blossom to harvest at king orchards in northern michigan near torch lake and lake michigan. But in july and early august, the countryside around traverse city is dotted with stands, markets and upick signs offering cartons of sweet, dark cherries. Traverse city, michigan is home to the annual national cherry festival and is the cherry capital of the world. Blueberry festival in otter lake, michigan typically held the last saturday in july. Michigan cherries learn about the types of michigan cherries including the montmorency cherry sour cherry and the sweet cherry. They are great for salads and putting in baked goods. Jul 25, 2019 cherry shaking season is here in michigan and that means cherries throughout the northern part of the state are ripe and ready to be picked off the tree. I was compensated with travel and lodging expenses. Michigan is cherry country because of the moderating lake effect weather from lake michigan. We use these ruby red morsels of joy in over 200 cherry products like salsas, chocolate covered cherries, cherry nut mixes. Cherry production in michigan is a major part of the agriculture industry in the state.
Wpbnwgtu you would think rain would be good for crops, but this season has been a little too wet, and its causing cherry harvest to be a little later than usual. California cherry harvest is a sure sign of hope, health and new beginnings all things we need now more than ever. Cherries red tart cherries sweet grapes melons watermelon,musk nectarines peaches pears plums raspberries rhubarb strawberries michigan availability guide this chart is a buying guide for fruits and vegetables commonly grown in michigan. Between 2006 and 2018, 160 cherry farms across the state shut down with 44 of those in grand traverse and leelanau counties, according. Apr 16, 2020 a northern michigan tradition has been called off. It shows a wide range of availability because the season for fruits and vegetables varies slightly from year to year and from one area of the state to another. Cherry capital of the world traverse city, michigan. Upick cherry orchard in northern michigan king orchards. Michigan s northwest lower peninsula is the largest producer of tart cherries in the united states. Its been news cherry farmers in northern michigan had been hoping would come. Jim nugent from the northwest michigan horticultural research station in leelanau county offered his assessment of the current state of northern michigan fruit crops. After harvest, these gorgeous michigan montmorency tart cherries then head off to smeltzer orchards where they will be processed and will eventually become pie. Another route is the leelanau trail in leelanau county, a recreational trail that passes many orchards.
Jun 05, 2019 the cherry industry contributes millions of dollars to the northern michigan economy. This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested in michigan. As far as i am concerned they are the best cherries for out of hand eating. Cherry festival is over, but the cherry season has just begun. There are close to 7000 cherries on the average tart cherry tree, enough for 28 pies. You can buy a big box of dried cherries that are from michigan. Traverse city tourism is going virtual with diy tc, a new zoom video series that helps you get a little up north into your day.
Cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. Tart cherry season from blossom to harvest youtube. Riveridges sweet cherry program features the natural progression of preferred sweet cherry varieties as they ripen from south to north. Michigan availability guide this chart is a buying guide for fruits and vegetables commonly grown in michigan. Thursday, the national cherry festival announced that theyre canceling the event for summer 2020. And sweet cherry production in michigan is also up by 27 percent, at 23,900 tons. This area has a friendly rivalry with wisconsins door peninsula, also warmed by the waters of lake michigan and known for cherries and vineyards. I am lucky because my home state of michigan is the number 1 tart cherry grower in the united states. A hungarian sour cherry cultivar, balaton, has been commercially produced in michigan since 1998.
Best of all, michigan cherries are packed full of great taste and amazing benefits. Indeed, the area around traverse city will produce around 165 million tart cherries. A traverse city tart cherry farmer is leaving 14% of his crop this year to rot due to an industry marketing agreement. Northern michigan cherries can be used for dried cherries, cherry concentrate, cherry capsules and more. Pick your own sour cherries in michigan, mi pickyourown. Releases line of premium cocktail cherries top 10 best northern michigan cherry products 2017. Michigan crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. Jul 07, 2017 michigan is expected to produce about 165 million pounds of tart cherries this season, thats 70% of americas tart cherry crop. These cherries are black in color without any red hint. Many of the golden sweet varieties are made into maraschino cherries.
When compared to the sweet cherries, the montmorency, michigan cherry is smaller in size, contains less sugar and bright red in color. The sandy soil and temperate weather conditions along the eastern shore of lake michigan are excellent for growing fruit. Aug 01, 20 welcome to traverse city, michigan, the cherry capital of the world. Guide to northern michigan fruit farms july 15, 2016. Harvesting over 90,000 tons of cherries each year, michigan is the nations leading producer of tart cherries. Most cherry varieties have a chilling requirement of 800 or more hours, meaning that in order to break dormancy, blossom, and set fruit, the winter season needs to have at least 800 hours where the temperature is below 45 f. Fruit growth has finally taken off with warmer temperatures over the weekend. Michigan cherry industry still trying to absorb tariff loss to turkey update. May 18, 2017 one of the most scenic cherry blossom drives is north on county road 641 from m72. Michigan cherry processors request 650% tariff on turkey. Michigan reports 547 new cases of coronavirus, 29 deaths. You would think a bumper crop of cherries would be a good thing for michigan growers but industry analysts say its actually not, given ongoing trade issues. Our mid to late season black cherry, sams extends our season. Michigan grows 75 percent of the us crop of tart cherries, and about 20 percent of sweet cherries.
Tart cherry season runs from early july to early august. Upick cherries at king orchards, northern michigan cherry. In the summer come eat with us at the restaurant closed for the season, and in the fall, winter and spring, come see us at cherry hut products in benzonia open in november where we sell cherry goodies and bake cherry pies. National cherry festival canceled due to coronavirus. Traverse citythe drive north from traverse city up through old mission peninsula affords visitors a hilltop vista of the blue east and west bays of grand. Jan 19, 2020 michigan s cherry industry is already rife with casualties. The altonen family has been growing fruit in northern michigan since the 1940s, and today owns over 600 acres of land where youll find over 20 varieties of apples and other fruits. We also have a page with links to our own simple instructions on canning, freezing and drying many fruits and vegetables, such as how to make jam, apple butter. Each year we anxiously await the arrival of the ruby fruit that brings visitors to the area, and keeps many of our businesses running. Opinion we have an agricultural crisis in michigan. Aug 03, 2018 cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. Most of michigans sweet cherry production is concentrated in the traverse city area. Nestled between lake leelanau and grand traverse bay on michigan s northern peninsula is a stunning landscape of cherry orchards, home to the most incredible, rubyred fruits you will ever taste. Tart cherries grown in northern michigan primarily surface in the food market as processed foods like cherry concentrate, juices, purees, pie filling, or dried cherries.
Whats in season in february 2020, and other timely information. Whats in season in may 2020, and other timely information. At king orchards, our harvest season begins with strawberry upick in mid june and ends with upick apples in the fall. King orchards in northern michigan is a upick cherry orchard, also offering raspberries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, and apples.
Contact our sales staff for more information apply for cherry season. Jul, 2010 one of the great treats of the early summer are fresh cherries. Apr 18, 2020 tart cherries can be hard to find fresh. Types of cherries grown in northern michigan king orchards. Cherryshaking season is here in michigan and that means cherries throughout the northern part of the state are ripe and ready to be picked off the tree. Guide to enjoying traverse citys cherry blossoms the. Feds refuse a salvage cut to save michigans cherry industry. Guide to northern michigan fruit farms features northern. We live in a bountiful belt of orchards and farms that bear some of the best fruit in the nation why would you spend a second of your summer standing in a grocery store line to buy berries.
Old mission peninsula in traverse county is one of the best places in michigan to see cherry blossoms. The world record for spitting a cherry pit is now 100 feet 4 inches, held by young gun krauss, son of 10 time record holder pellet gun krause. Mcfarlane this summer has been, so far, what one might call less than sweltering. Dec 30, 2015 this video outlines our montmorency tart cherry season from blossom to harvest at king orchards in northern michigan near torch lake and lake michigan. Michigan sweet cherries riveridge produce marketing, inc.
Many northern michigan cherry farms offer the option of upick. Most of michigan s sweet cherry production is concentrated in the traverse city area. Cherry bliss on michigans northern peninsula cooking light. Upick cherries at king orchards, northern michigan familygrown tart cherries, sweet cherries, honeycrisp apples, northern spy apples, macs, mutsu, galas, ida reds, ginger golds, raspberries, red. Northern michigan is responsible for 90 percent of the states sweet cherry production. Blueberry lane plantation farm on blueberry lane in otter lake, michigan. Ap the national cherry festival, a major northern michigan summer destination for decades, has been canceled for 2020 due to. National cherry festival canceled due to coronavirus crisis. I was invited by the cherry marketing institute to attend an educational cherry harvest event in northern michigan. Michigans cherry production is about 250 million pounds, and represents about 75 percent of the tart cherries and 20 percent of the sweet cherries grown annually in the united states. This is the most popular type of sour cherry used for baking, cooking, used to make cherry jam and cherry juice concentrate. Pick your own sweet cherries season begins around early july and lasts approximately three weeks. The tree is a heavy bearer, with grapelike clusters of fruit. Philip korson, president of the cherry marketing institute in dewitt, michigan, told a joint legislative hearing in lansing last week that 85 percent of tree orders for this past springs planting season had been canceled.
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