May 3, 2012

Michigan crop freeze forces Cherry Republic to order from Poland

Don’t be surprised to see the Polish flag hanging in Michigan’s four Cherry Republic stores this year.

The Michigan-based retailer — which has stores in Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Charlevoix and Ann Arbor — is one of many businesses in the state dealing with the effects of unusually warm weather in March followed by multiple spring freezes.

With the majority of Michigan’s expansive cherry crop destroyed by this weather, Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland said he was forced to think outside the box in order to continue selling his variety of cherry products.

His solution: Ordering millions of cherries from the Lublin region in Poland. Ann Arbor.com

Read more of the story here.