Spring frost slashes Michigan cherry harvest

Traverse City area hit hard: tart cherry production down by 45%. Excellent fruit quality, but low volumes are pushing prices up.

In northern Michigan, the cherry harvest is expected to be significantly lower than in previous years. A spring frost, following a sudden temperature rise at the end of April, severely damaged the developing buds.

Ben LaCross, a grower in the Traverse City area — the cherry heartland of the state — explains: “The sudden warmth pushed the buds forward, making them vulnerable. The following frost compromised much of the bloom. We expect to harvest between 30% and 40% of the crop.”

A tough season

Michigan, the top U.S. producer of tart cherries and fourth for sweet cherries, is facing an unusual season. The good news is the quality of the fruit, which LaCross describes as “beautiful,” thanks to well-timed rains and a lower incidence of fruit cracking.

However, the lack of supply will also impact the market. “With yields this low, prices will be very strong across the region,” the grower predicts.

According to official estimates from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board, Michigan’s tart cherry production will be 97 million pounds (about 44,000 tons), down 45% from 2024. Total U.S. production is expected to exceed 171 million pounds (about 77,500 tons). Sweet cherries are also down significantly, with an estimated 33% drop and total production of 14,000 pounds (about 6,350 kg).

Text and image source: brownfieldagnews.com

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