Traverse city, michigan is home to the annual national cherry festival and is the cherry capital of the world. Jim nugent from the northwest michigan horticultural research station in leelanau county offered his assessment of the current state of northern michigan fruit crops. Our farm currently owns slightly over 1100 acres, split between cattle, corn, hay, soybeans and cherry orchards. Peak viewing time for the beloved yoshino trees is midmarch, but with the variety of trees planted at the garden, the. These cherries are black in color without any red hint. You can buy a big box of dried cherries that are from michigan.
Guided turkey hunting at cherry creek farm is always rewarding. Many of the golden sweet varieties are made into maraschino cherries. I was invited by the cherry marketing institute to attend an educational cherry harvest event in northern michigan. Michigan grows 75 percent of the us crop of tart cherries, and about 20 percent of sweet cherries. Michigan s northwest lower peninsula is the largest producer of tart cherries in the united states. Mcfarlane this summer has been, so far, what one might call less than sweltering. A cherry blossom tour is a great way to spend an afternoon. A summer of despair for michigans cherry growers bridge.
It is a cross between the varieties schmidt and lambert. 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. These cherry bins are filled with water, which is used to cool the recently picked cherries. Spring drives on the old mission peninsula in michigan. A drive up 641 winds through stunning cherry orchards and features some shimmering glimpses of lake leelanau. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above. Cherry harvest in northern michigan posted on august 3, 2018 in community 2 comments cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. Aug 03, 2018 cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. 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. We use these ruby red morsels of joy in over 200 cherry products like salsas, chocolate covered cherries, cherry nut mixes. 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.
Northern spy, midlate oct, big and firm pies, baking, drying, eating. Local cherries are the gems of the northern michigan summer. One of the great treats of the early summer are fresh cherries. After harvest, these gorgeous michigan montmorency tart cherries then head off to smeltzer. Jul, 2010 one of the great treats of the early summer are fresh cherries.
This area has a friendly rivalry with wisconsins door peninsula, also warmed by the waters of lake michigan and known for cherries and vineyards. Our mid to late season black cherry, sams extends our season. The specific region of northern michigan known for tart cherry production is referred to as the traverse bay region. Michigan cherry industry still trying to absorb tariff loss to. Thursday, the national cherry festival announced that theyre canceling the event for summer 2020.
Michigan sweet cherries riveridge produce marketing, inc. 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. Cherry season has arrived at bardenhagen farms in suttons bay, michigan. Apr 18, 2020 tart cherries can be hard to find fresh. California cherry harvest calendar when various varieties. Many michigan cherry farms and orchards off upick for the sweet cherry. Cherry bliss on michigans northern peninsula cooking light. We recently took a field trip to amos orchards in northern michigan to see.
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. A presidential proclamation this week changes tariffs on certain products coming into the united states, and cherry farmers in northern michigan say it. One of the most scenic cherry blossom drives is north on county road 641 from m72. 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. Michigan is the countrys leading producer of tart cherries. Indeed, the area around traverse city will produce around 165 million tart cherries. 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. Cherry capital of the world traverse city, michigan. 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. Pick your own sweet cherries season begins around early july and lasts approximately three weeks. Apr 16, 2020 a rendering of coronavirus via the cdc.
Desserts july in northern michigan is cherry gorging season, so to help get you through with minimal unfulfilled cravings, we found this delicious recipe. Northern michigan cherry farmers excited about change to. Opinion we have an agricultural crisis in michigan. Michigan availability guide this chart is a buying guide for fruits and vegetables commonly grown in michigan. The lewis ginter botanical garden near richmond offers the cherry tree walk, a path that has been planted with a variety of trees yoshino, akebono, weeping cherry, kwanzan, and autumnalis to extend the blooming season. Most of michigans sweet cherry production is concentrated in the traverse city area. Types of cherries grown in northern michigan king orchards. The majority of michigan s sweet cherry crop is processed. This video outlines our montmorency tart cherry season from blossom to harvest at king orchards in northern michigan near torch lake and lake michigan.
It allows the states west coast to grow outstanding cherries, from traverse city south to the state border. The sweet variety is type of cherry that is usually found at your local farmers market or in the produce section of your local grocery store. Between 2006 and 2018, 160 cherry farms across the state shut down with 44 of those. Guide to enjoying traverse citys cherry blossoms the. 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. Whats in season in may 2020, and other timely information. Feds refuse a salvage cut to save michigans cherry industry. 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. The cherry hut a northern michigan tradition since 1922. Michigan is cherry country because of the moderating lake effect weather from lake michigan. Michigan is the leading producer in the united states of tart cherries.
A popular tourist destination, it is home to several small to mediumsized cities, extensive state and national forests, lakes and rivers, and. This area of northern michigan is fondly known as the wild turkey capital of the state and features a large turkey population. 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. Jun 05, 2019 the cherry industry contributes millions of dollars to the northern michigan economy. Annual cherry festival in traverse city canceled for 2020. Im strictly a northern michigan girl,go south and there are just too many people.
Typical crop availability when to pick in michigan. Shooks farms is a family operated farm nestled in the beautiful countryside of northern antrim county near torch lake. Upick cherry orchard in northern michigan king orchards. Jan 19, 2020 michigan s cherry industry is already rife with casualties. Michigan crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. Jul 25, 2019 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. Michigan cherry industry still trying to absorb tariff loss to turkey update. With locations in beulah and benzonia michigan, the cherry hut serves up memories daily.
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. National cherry homepages information about northern michigans cherry industry. Fruit growth has finally taken off with warmer temperatures over the weekend. The montmorency cherry is the variety of tart, or sour, cherry most commonly grown in the state. Welcome to traverse city, michigan, the cherry capital of the world. Posted on august 3, 2018 in community 2 comments cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. The michigan cherry picking season starts in july and lasts until about midaugust. The northern michigan agricultural report by andrew l. After harvest, these gorgeous michigan montmorency tart cherries then head off to smeltzer orchards where they will be processed and will eventually become pie. Since the 1900s, michigan has produced a large quantity of tart cherries, valued for use in pies, juice and preserves.
Cherry festival is over, but the cherry season has just begun. Michigan cherries cherry trees can grow almost anywhere. 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. It is during this time of the summer, youll see the cherry farms buzzing with activity. Northern michigan is the big gorilla when it comes to cherries, says brad wendzel of coloma frozen foods. Rothwell said due to an early cherry harvest, michigan cherries played a larger role in the national cherry festival than in previous years. A summer of despair for michigans cherry growers bridge magazine. Most of michigan s sweet cherry production is concentrated in the traverse city area. May 07, 2020 east michigan fruit update may 5, 2020 published on may 5, 2020. Michigan s cherry industry is highly vulnerable to a late spring frost, which can wipe out a season s harvest. Traverse city the national cherry festival, a major northern michigan summer destination for decades, has been canceled for 2020 due to. Michigan crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables are. Apr 02, 2019 after a long winter, the sight of cherry blossoms is tonic for the soul.
Youll see the flatbed trucks loaded with cherry bins. A hungarian sour cherry cultivar, balaton, has been commercially produced in michigan since 1998. Cherry harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. But, while driving through northern michigan you can find sweet cherries at a local supermarket, farm market or roadside stand. But the biggest telltale signs are the spilled cherries all over the ground at the turns and curves of the country roads. The deliciousness dates back to the 1950s, when vernon bardenhagen planted the first cherry tree on his familys land, bardenhagen farms, which has. Guide to northern michigan fruit farms july 15, 2016. I was compensated with travel and lodging expenses.
Riveridges sweet cherry program features the natural progression of preferred sweet cherry varieties as they ripen from south to north. Friend of the farm and chef mario batali shares his experience. There is freeze damage to many fruits from cold temperatures on april 22. From bright red to the dark maroon and to the yellow and pink. May 18, 2017 one of the most scenic cherry blossom drives is north on county road 641 from m72. The local difference with montmorency tart cherries. Im thinking this will be an early year, because the weather has been so warm so quickly.
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. Our close proximity to lake michigan affords cool breezes necessary for the production of delicious fruit. Cherry harvest in northern michigan grand traverse pie company. King orchards in northern michigan is a u pick cherry orchard, also offering. You always know cherry season has started here in northern michigan on the lower west coast by two things. We use these ruby red morsels of joy in over 200 cherry products like salsas, chocolate covered cherries, cherry nut mixes, and much more.
In northern michigan, cherries love the gravelly soil of the old mission peninsula and so do tourists. So were seeing tart cherries and sweet cherries coming into ripening at the same time. Michigan turkey hunting season runs from midapril midmay. I am lucky because my home state of michigan is the number 1 tart cherry grower in the united states. Cherry harvest begins in northern michigan wcmu public radio. 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. According to bob, a cherry connoisseur in the torch lake area, it is northern michigans best cherry. One of the best varieties is the michigan black cherry. Aug 03, 2018 harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year. Each year we anxiously await the arrival of the ruby fruit that brings visitors to the area, and keeps many of our businesses running. 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. 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. In fact, we grow 75% of the countrys variety of mighty montmorency cherries.
Tart cherry season runs from early july to early august. Between 2006 and 2018, 160 cherry farms across the state shut down with 44 of those in grand traverse and leelanau counties, according. Michigan cherry processors request 650% tariff on turkey. National cherry festival canceled due to coronavirus. The main product made with sweets is maraschino cherries.
Guided turkey hunting in michigan is also an exceptional season here at cherry creek farm. The tree is a heavy bearer, with grapelike clusters of fruit. We recently took a field trip to amos orchards in northern michigan to see where it all begins. First, is the number of tractors going down the roads. 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. Ap the national cherry festival, a major northern michigan summer destination for decades, has been canceled for 2020 due to. Cherry orchards line the eastern shore of lake michigan from benton harbor to the traverse city area. Cherry harvest in northern michigan grand traverse pie. The state is rivaled only by the pacific northwest for cherry production, with michigan growing the bulk of the tart cherry crop and the northwest producing sweet fruit. Looking for cherry harvest calendar for california in 2020. This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested in michigan. Harvest season is one of our most favorite times of the year.
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