Cherries

Farm markets scrambling to replace fruit

When the big freeze hit in late April, some farm marketers knew right away this would be a year unlike any they’ve experienced. For others, it took a while for reality to sink in, said... more »

Solar panels power California grape grower

By its nature, agriculture is solar friendly; after all, without the sun, nothing grows. Growers in some parts of the country, however – particularly California – are using solar power in concrete and technologically sophisticated... more »

Montana growers back to shipping cherries

Flathead Lake Cherry Growers resumed the cherry harvest for the national market on Monday after a few days’ break to lessen the glut of fruit from a robust season — and to assess damage from... more »

Michigan blueberry farmer struggles to find enough pickers

Antonio Leduc doesn’t understand why Michigan is offering emergency housing assistance to migrant farm workers this summer.He has plenty of work available picking blueberries at his farm in Paw Paw, yet the state is offering... more »

Stabenow pushes House to pass farm bill

The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill last month. Now, it’s up to the House of Representatives. Hopefully, House leaders will overcome the “partisan posturing” of an election year and do... more »

Fewer cherry farms in Michigan

There were 450 Michigan farms growing tart cherries in 2011, down from 540 in 2006 and 615 in 2000, according to recent reports from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.Despite the shrinking number of farms, the... more »

Feds OK help for fruit growers hammered by weather

The federal government Monday declared Michigan a disaster area because of damage to fruit crops from erratic spring weather, making growers eligible to seek low-interest loans.Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said USDA had granted... more »

New York apple crop takes a significant hit

Ken Nice has been growing fruit for 50 years and he’s never seen such bare branches on his apple trees during the growing season.“There are some trees with nothing on them,” said Nice, a Knowlesville... more »