May 15, 2012
Michigan growers seek emergency aid

You know the story by now.

Record heat in March followed by freezes in April virtually wiped out Michigan’s apples, among other fruit crops. On Monday, dozens of apple growers gathered at Joe Klein’s farm in Sparta, Mich., to discuss their concerns with U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga.

Phil Schwallier, a Michigan State University Extension educator and owner of Schwallier’s Country Basket in Sparta, talked about the economic impact of the lost apple crop – not just on the growing end, but on packing, processing, storage and trucking. And the impact will be felt beyond 2012. Migrant crews won’t find work in Michigan this year, and getting them back next year will be more difficult, Schwallier said.

So will recovering lost markets, said Mike Rothwell, president of BelleHarvest Sales, a fresh-apple marketer in Belding, Mich.

“We believe at BelleHarvest that there’s going to be some apples, that we are going to be in the game for a little while – we just don’t know for how long,” Rothwell said.

Of course, the bills keep coming even when the fruit runs out, which will force the company to make some “very difficult choices,” he said.

“No matter how bad we think it’s going to be financially for our organization, we know it’s going to be worse.”

There will be similar crop shortages throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Out west, meanwhile, “record numbers” of apples are expected. Some of Michigan’s traditional markets will find apples elsewhere, either from growers out west or from imports. Michigan will have to work very hard to get those markets back, Rothwell said.

Just last week, McDonald’s kicked off a “From Michigan For Michigan” initiative that pledged to source local suppliers for fresh produce, meat and eggs. The company stated it plans to purchase 21 million pounds of Michigan apples in 2012 – a lofty goal in light of the current crop outlook.

“We have not received any update on crop availability from the apple growers as of yet,” said Ginny Seyferth, media relations representative for McDonald’s of Michigan. “Our plan remains to build a long-term relationship with the Michigan growers, so the relationship is not based on just one season.”

Other speakers at the Sparta meeting mentioned the need for emergency financial aid – something beyond federal crop insurance, which is “not a perfect policy,” said Al Dietrich, co-owner of Ridgeview Orchards in Conklin, Mich.

“We’re always looked at as looking for handouts,” said Roger Kropf, owner of Core Farms in Hartford, Mich. “This is not a handout. We need a bridge.”

Huizenga said he was working with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s office, and other members of Congress, to come up with solutions.

“Obviously, this is a significant issue,” Huizenga said.

Matt Milkovich




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