cherry production in Michigan

{{Short description|Aspect of agriculture}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}

File:Montmorency cherries (3648681426).jpg

File:Cherry season (48216568192).jpg

Cherry production in Michigan is a major part of the agriculture industry in the state.{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=John L. |date=July 16, 2016 |title=Michigan Growers Foresee Tasty Year for Cherry Harvest |work=The Detroit News |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/07/15/michigan-cherry-harvest/87167492/ |access-date=January 2, 2017}} Harvesting over 90,000 tons of cherries each year, Michigan is the nation's leading producer of tart cherries. The Montmorency cherry is the variety of tart, or sour, cherry most commonly grown in the state.{{Cite book |url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/MI_Ag_Facts__Figures_474011_7.pdf |title=Michigan Agriculture Facts & Figures |date=n.d. |publisher=Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development |at=n.p. |type=Brochure |author-link=Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development |access-date=January 2, 2017}} A Hungarian sour cherry cultivar, Balaton, has been commercially produced in Michigan since 1998.{{Cite web |last=Charles |first=Dan |title=A Hungarian Cherry Tree's Long Trek To Michigan |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/05/27/186270141/a-hungarian-cherry-trees-long-trek-to-michigan |website=NPR}}

Michigan's cherry industry is highly vulnerable to a late spring frost, which can wipe out a season's harvest. This occurred most recently in 2012, when over 90% of the crop was lost.{{Cite news |last=Dolan |first=Matthew |date=June 1, 2012 |title=Spring Is No Bowl of Cherries for Michigan Growers |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304791704577420802349893464 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=Michigan Cherries |url=http://www.michiganagriculture.com/foods/michigan-cherries/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102172121/http://www.michiganagriculture.com/foods/michigan-cherries/ |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |access-date=January 2, 2017 |publisher=Michigan Ag Council}}

The Fruit Belt (also called the Fruit Ridge) of western Michigan, and, in particular, the Grand Traverse Bay region, produce most of the state's cherries.{{Cite web |last=National Agricultural Statistics Service |date=June 17, 2010 |title=Cherry Production |url=http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/cher0610.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622100006/http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/cher0610.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2010 |publisher=National Agricultural Statistics Service }} In addition, Traverse City hosts the National Cherry Festival each July.{{Cite web |year=2017 |title=Cherry Industry |url=https://www.traversecity.com/area/about-traverse-city/cherry-industry/ |access-date=January 2, 2017 |publisher=Traverse City Tourism}}{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=National Cherry Festival |url=http://www.michigan.org/cherryfest/ |access-date=January 2, 2017 |website=Pure Michigan Travel |publisher=National Agricultural Statistics Service}}