A recent study conducted by Michigan State University detailed the contributions of specialty crops to the state’s economy. The entire supply chain of specialty crops generates $6.3 billion for the state and creates about 41,000 full-time jobs.
Michigan leads the U.S. in the production of asparagus, tart cherries and squash and ranks second in the production of apples and cucumbers, fourth in the production of blueberries and sixth in the production of potatoes.
“Many people think of cars when they think of Michigan, but agriculture is also a leading industry in our state,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “We have a great diversity of crops, but our climate and geography make Michigan ideal for growing apples.”
It‘s that crop diversity that makes Michigan stand out, said Jamie Clover Adams, executive director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. Many specialty crop growers begin the season with asparagus and end with apples to help attract and keep workers all year.
“Asparagus has a special place in that it‘s considered an anchor crop,” she said. “It’s a crop that starts folks off in the spring. It helps them spread the cost of equipment and facilities across more crops, and it really helps with labor.”
And many growers plant a variety of crops, said Greg Bird, executive director of the Michigan Vegetable Council, which helps support the state’s specialty crop supply chain — processors, shippers, etc. — as well as fill gaps for workers.
“Many different types of vegetables give us many different opportunities for additional products,” he said. “Having such a large variety allows us to keep our overall acreage pretty strong because people rotate things in different places.”
Location Matters
Proximity to Lake Michigan helps protect the fruits and vegetables grown in the state, and the sandy loam soil is well suited for certain crops.
“In the summer, you get moderate temperatures in the day, but it cools off at night, which is good for asparagus,” Clover Adams said. “I think those climates and soils really give the product kind of a sweet flavor. It’s got a real rich, rich flavor to it, and it does make a difference. I think that gives the crop its uniqueness.”
The Fruit Ridge, which sits along the shores of Lake Michigan and stretches north from Grand Rapids to Hart, features nutrient-rich soil that is ideal for apple growing. The Fruit Ridge is home to about 70% of the state’s apple production, Smith said.
“The Great Lakes buffer some of the severe weather coming across the Midwest,” she said. “The lakes also help in bringing precipitation to apple growing areas. The Great Lakes help provide moisture, as well as more moderate temperatures that contribute to fruit size.”
Growers as Caretakers
Bird said growers in the state also bring a wealth of generational knowledge, with many farms in their third, fourth or even fifth generation, which helps the state’s vegetable and specialty crop industry succeed.
Smith said growers on these multi-generational farms also see themselves as stewards of the land.
“Most of Michigan’s 850 apple farms are family-owned, and many are in their fourth or fifth generation,” she said. “It’s so important to growers to keep their land healthy for the future of their family farms.”
