Michigan cherry growers remove trees after hard weather and difficult market conditions

18 Aug 2023
1633

Due to the increasing challenges in the recent years a great number of cherry producers in Michigan are clearing out all their cherry orchards. This came after difficult weather conditions and concerns about foreign competition, that made profits almost unfeasible in recent years

According to USDA's Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts summary, released in May, since 2015 Michigan cherry orchards' acreage has been receding at a fast pace, with a decline from 28,400 acres to 23,000 recorded last year.

Based on Northwest Michigan's avarage 7,733-pound yield, the cost related to cherries production avarages around 40 cents per pound, According to the Michigan Tart Cherry Cost of Production Study for 2022.

Some producers believe to have earne little over around 22 cents for a pound of cherries during last season, further emphasizing how the cherry business model could be turning into a not sustainable one in the future.

Juliette King-McAvoy, vice president of sales and marketing for King Orchards, a retail operation based in Antrim County, said that "when we see so many farmers either selling their land or taking their trees out to plant something else, it's alarming to us. Is this industry going to be able to survive? There's been a lot of consolidation in the processing end of the industry, so there aren't very many options for farmers to go to sell their cherries.” 

Read the full article: The Detroit News


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Chilean cherries: better color and size with the Humic strategy

Quality

20 May 2025

Chilean growers embrace the Humic strategy to enhance cherry color, size, and uniformity. Results from the 2023 and 2024 seasons confirm higher quality, productive yield and profitability using Revital®, Potaliq® and Humic Kolour®, successfully tested across Europe.

Cherry trees and supercooling: a natural defence against frost

Tech management

20 Mar 2025

How do sweet cherry trees survive extreme frost? Scientists study supercooling, a mechanism that keeps the buds alive even at -27°C. Understanding this process is crucial to protect future crops from sudden frosts.

In evidenza

Jujuy leads the way: South America's first fresh cherries harvested in September

Production

07 Oct 2025

On September 30, the first fresh cherries of the season were harvested in Jujuy, Argentina. This historic milestone opens a new production window for export, thanks to advanced agronomic practices, ultra-early cherry varieties, and unique microclimate and ideal local conditions.

Corette rootstocks: the new frontier of modern high-density cherry growing

Rootstocks

07 Oct 2025

The new Corette rootstock series is reshaping cherry cultivation: rusticity, heat and drought resistance, and adaptability to high-density orchards. Cass, Crawford, and Lake offer earliness, fruit quality, yield, and sustainability for a truly competitive cherry future.

Tag Popolari