Weather Severely Affected Michigan Fruit Production This Year
Michigan, USA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared 47 counties, including the entire West Michigan, as “primary natural disaster areas” this week. The designation follows freezing temperatures and frost, as well as severe storms, extreme rain events, hail, flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and lightening throughout the year, which destroyed/damaged fruits and crops including apples, blueberries, cherries and vegetables.
Tim Tubbs, who farms with his father in Oceana County, holds an apple with a frost ring on it earlier this year. Source: Muskegon Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright.
Based on the October harvest projections report issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, fruit production will fall across the board— from apples by nearly a half to peaches down by more than a fifth.
- Apples (49%)
- Tart Cherries (47%)
- Grapes (44%)
- Sweet Cherries (41%)
- Plums (33%)
- Peaches (21%)
Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture: October Fruit Report
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Meanwhile, severe weather including 2 major snowstorms hit large parts of the US:
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