Bad news for the 2008 Michigan cherry crop
Andrew Norton
Michigan cherry farmers are looking at what could be as small of a crop as the decimated 2002 cherry crop for their projected 2008 crop. Hail, late frost, weak trees from last year's drought, and poor bee pollination are sited as reasons behind the weak outlook. Growers are looking at a cherry crop that will most likely be less than half of 2007 totals. The 2007 cherry crop was 134 million pounds. The official cherry crop estimate for 2008 is due out today from the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association.