By Andi Anderson
Michigan’s sweet cherry growers faced a devastating 2024 season, losing about 75% of their crops due to extreme weather. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reported that a mild winter followed by a rainy start to the growing season created ideal conditions for disease and insects to spread.
MDARD Director Tim Boring pointed out that these weather challenges are increasingly linked to changing climate patterns in the region.
In response to the crisis, Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested a disaster declaration for northwest Michigan’s cherry-growing counties, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This declaration allows affected farmers to access emergency low-interest loans to help them recover from the losses. The declaration covers key cherry-producing counties, including Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, and others.
Beyond the weather, Michigan’s cherry industry has faced rising labor costs and competition from cheaper imported cherries, particularly from Turkey.
This has added pressure on local producers, who struggle to compete with the lower production costs abroad.
Despite the setbacks for sweet cherry growers, Michigan’s tart cherry crop thrived in 2024. The Cherry Industry Administrative Board reported a harvest of over 100 million pounds of tart cherries from the northern Lower Peninsula, a significant 50% increase compared to 2023.
As the state’s cherry industry navigates these challenges, federal support and adaptive strategies will be crucial in helping growers remain sustainable for future seasons.
Photo Credit: pixabay-couleur
Categories: Michigan, Weather