Michigan Apple Freeze

Michigan Apple Freeze. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Providing the northwest apple crop is a good one this year prices producers get just might be better due to a major freeze in the upper midwest that has caused major losses for Michigan apples. Ag Networks Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: Estimate are saying that more than half of the apple crop in Michigan could be lost due to late-April freezes. Producers in the states southwestern fruit production area may have a near total loss. Growers are saying they have never seen anything like it and it may take until some time in June to really know the full extent of the losses.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Michigan shipped the equivalent of nearly 4.8 million 40-pound cartons of apples last season. This year will be substantially, with a emphasis on substantial, less than that and it will hurt a lot of farmers.

While there will fruit out of the state the size and quality will be in question. Some areas say temperatures dipping down in the 22 degree range and the cold not only hit apples but other commodities as well. In fact the United States Department of Agriculture puts the losses of apples, sweet and tart cherries, blueberries, asparagus, peaches, and juice grapes at $223.5 million. And the damage will trickle down to ancillary businesses like packing houses and processing plants. What will this all mean for Washington apples? We’ll look into it on Monday.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.