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Michigan is well known for fruits like apples, cherries, and blueberries. We’re the seventh largest state for fruit and vegetable production.
Michigan produces more cherries and blueberries than any other state. So you can say fruit production is a big deal in Michigan.
The MDARD (Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development) ranks Michigan’s top five fruits produced.
Furthermore, the Michigan Farm Bureau highlights apples and tart cherries alongside dairy and grain as Michigan’s four finest agricultural products. So Michigan fruit is a big deal both in and out of state.
To keep it local, 95% of Michigan farms are family or individually owned, and Michigan ranks third in the nation for number of farmers markets, meaning a good portion of the locally grown fruit gets eaten up locally.
Michigan is the nation’s third largest producer of apples, after Washington and New York. Despite a bronze apple-shaped trophy, Michigan apples are used for apple pie more than any other state. Other Michigan apples go towards applesauce, cider, and juice. Source: Michigan Ag Council
Michigan’s apple industry has seen a 40% increase in local apple production since the pandemic hit in 2020, and according to Michigan Farm News, Michigan expects to grow 30 million bushels of apples in 2024.
Michigan is the nation’s #1 producer of blueberries, production about 70 to 80 million pounds of blueberries per year, supplying 32 percent of the blueberries enjoyed in the United States and on the rise in recent years. Source: MSU Extension
Michigan is home to over 20 varieties of blueberries, and leads the nation in highbush blueberry production from about 575 Michigan family blueberry farms.
Michigan ranks first place as the top producer of Montmorency tart cherries in the United States with an annual yield equaling about 60% to 80% of the United States’ total production. Traverse City, Michigan is well-known as the "Cherry Capital of the World". Source: Michigan Ag Council
In today’s global world of agriculture, the world’s finest environment for growing tart cherries isn’t enough to meet demand, so Michigan’s cherry growing leaders look to technology for new ways to increase tart cherry production. Source: Northern Express
Michigan ranks as the number eight state in the United States in terms of grape production, and about one third of Michigan grapes are devoted to sweet berry wine production. It’s no wonder Michigan is home to over 200 commercial wineries produce which produce more than 4 million gallons of wine per year, mostly Concord and Niagara grape varieties. Source: MDARD Grapes PDF and Michigan Ag Council
In 2023, Michigan produced more than 10 million pounds of peaches, and in 2022, Michigan produced more than 20 million pounds of peaches. The rapid decline is commonly attributed to Michigan climate change. Source: Michigan Ag Council and MDARD Peaches PDF
According USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) data from 1999, Michigan ranked as the sixth top producer of peaches in the United States with an annual yield equaling just 4% of the United States’ total peaches production.
According to the MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), Michigan’s agricultural products, including fruit and vegetables, are mainly exported to the countries of Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. About 40% of total Michigan agricultural exports go to Canada.
For some reason, exports of Michigan apples are especially popular in Central America, Colombia (South American), Southeast Asia, and The Caribbean. It’s good information when planning a winter vacation. Source: Michigan Farmer
About one-third of the agricultural products are exported internationally, and the other two thirds are kept domestically, not necessarily within the State of Michigan.
The State of Michigan fruit production has recovered since the pandemic. The years 2021 and 2022 were record-breaking years in terms of high food production from the State of Michigan. Michigan’s Governor Whitmer explains: "For the second year in a row, Michigan's food and agriculture industry has set a new record - with exports totaling $2.7 billion in 2022."
MSU (Michigan State University) continues year-after-year agro-educational programs in support of Michigan’s most unique farmed fruits.
As a result of the pandemic, Michigan Apple exports hit a record low of only 6,000 bushels in 2021, compared to an average of 150,000 bushels per year. But according to a July 2024 press release, we’ve bounced back since then with a 40% increase in Michigan apple exports.
Michigan climate change, unpredictable extremes in weather during certain years, is shown to negatively affect the yield of key fruits including cherries and apples. The Detroit Free Press reports about the year 2012 for example, Michigan lost 90% of its tart cherry crop from extreme weather conditions.
“Protect Our Produce” says the Michigan fruit and vegetable industry is at risk of economic challenges, particularly to an increase in the cost of wages to produce fruits and vegetables.
