News
Michigan apple harvest underway, for some
Apple harvest is picking up in one of the nation’s largest producing states, but not for all growers.
“Our crop is virtually nonexistent.”
Southwest Michigan grower Kevin Winkel’s orchard is just south of I-94 in Hartford where freezing temperatures in May devastated most tree fruit that was blooming at the time.
“The crops are very light and very poor. When you get 30 miles south, they’re much better and when you go north of South Haven, and especially Grand Rapids, their crops seem to be pretty good.”
The 2020 Michigan Master Farmer tells Brownfield this isn’t the first time his crop had to be abandoned because of extreme weather.
“It appears this has occurred to us every six, seven years or so where we’ve had a complete crop failure. Yet, when my father owned this farm, he only had one hailstorm that was significant in his entire time of farming.”
Winkel says after resting this year, his trees will be hardier for next season and is optimistic there will be a harvest.
Michigan State University Extension reports early season apple varieties are being harvested and the season should run through the first week of November.
Michigan is the nation’s third largest producer of apples.
