Fruit production in Michigan for 2017 was down from 2016 for all major fruits, according to Marlo Johnson, director of the USDA National Ag Statistics Service’s Great Lakes Regional Office.

Michigan apple production was 840 million pounds, down from 1.275 billion pounds in 2016. The farm-level value of utilized production was $251.8 million. Michigan was the third-largest apple-producing state in the country. A late freeze resulted in a smaller crop.

Michigan tart cherry production was 189.2 million pounds, down from 227 million pounds in 2016. The farm-level value of utilized production was $39.7 million. Michigan was the largest tart-cherry-producing state. A freeze event on May 8 caused damage. Harvest began in early July and progressed rapidly. Harvest was complete in southern Michigan by the end of July and was completed in northern Michigan by mid-August. Rain events and higher temperatures in early August softened late-harvested fruit, reduced Brix levels, and raised concerns about insects and disease.

Sweet cherry production was 21,300 tons in 2017, down from 22,610 tons in 2016. The farm-level value of utilized production was $16.1 million.

Cultivated blueberry production in Michigan was 102 million pounds. Michigan growers harvested 20,000 acres in 2017. The farm-level value of utilized production was $116.4 million. There was a hard freeze in early May, which caused a crop failure for some producers. The freeze coupled with infestation of spotted wing drosophila, mummy berry disease and gall wasp decreased the quality of some berries produced in 2017.

Michigan grape production was 63,600 tons. The farm-level value of utilized production was $24.1 million. There were 38,800 tons of Concords and 17,700 tons of Niagara grapes processed.

Source: NASS