Michigan

New Great Lakes Tech Event Targets Specialty Crop Survival

Mon, 11 May 2026 21:29:53 GMT

Great Lakes Tek Flex seeks to connect growers in the Great Lakes region with in-field tech demos. The new tech event is set for Sept. 10-11 at the Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Great Lakes Tek Flex plans to feature the latest in weed mitigation and crop management solutions using robotics, drones and precision agriculture technology. The event seeks to improve the sustainability and resiliency of Great Lakes specialty crop growers by removing barriers to technology adoption.

Mark Ledebuhr, principal with Application Insight, says the event is much needed for the region with growers struggling to find labor, whose needs are different than their Western counterparts. It will also bring together ag tech companies with growers in need of innovation.

“If we don’t get [innovation], we may not be growing a lot of specialty crops that we grow in Michigan in 10 years here,” he says.

Ledebuhr says he understands some of the challenges to marketing to growers in this region, which spans about eight states as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. The Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center is located within a day of 80% of the fruit and vegetables grown in the region, he notes.

“That’s the reason for the site choice,” he says.

Ledebuhr says it’s important to get the technology in front of growers in similar conditions to what’s grown in the region, adding that Great Lakes Tek Flex is designed to bring together entities to work together to solve some of the challenges today’s growers face.

“If you take smart people who are invested in the problem, and you get them together in a room, and you create the space to solve problems, problems get solved,” he says.

But this is more than just a tire-kicking event, he says.

The first day will connect growers with companies that have commercialized technologies with demonstrations to allow for interactions with company representatives so that growers can better understand the benefits of these technologies. These include see-and-spray technology, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence perception tools, orchard management, planting, vegetation management, harvesting, drone spray and AI decision support.

“We see technology transforming fields, making planting, monitoring, weed management and harvesting more precise and efficient,” says Randy Stratton, director of Great Lakes Tek Flex Expo and Field Days. “With these innovations, growers are building a smarter, more sustainable future for farming.”

The second day will feature targeted discussions with government officials, industry groups and supporting industries to better identify and align resources and activity to streamline the process of tech adoption.

“I’ve watched more technologies leave this market not because they didn’t have significant benefits, but because we couldn’t figure out how to make space for them to actually help farmers improve,” Stratton says. “So it was organizational and regulatory disincentive that kept these things out of the market.”

Ledebuhr says more companies will be added, but a list of the participating companies can be found at GLTekFlex.org .

Event partners and sponsors include Michigan State University Extension; Michigan Department of Agriculture; Michigan Vegetable Council; Michigan Grape Growers; Michigan Horticultural Society,; Ohio State University; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness; Cornell University; The Ontario Ag Robotics Working Group; and Meshcomm Engineering.

“This event is the first of its kind in North America, right here in the Great Lakes region,” says Mike Reinke, Michigan State University viticulture Extension specialist and Great Lakes Tek Flex board member. “Growers and agronomists are going to find new and proven agri-tech manufacturers demonstrating their technology and connecting with potential end users of these amazing tools.”

FirstFruits Adds to Michigan Leadership

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:25:42 GMT

FirstFruits says it has expanded its Michigan leadership team as the company continues building on the growth and opportunities created by its 2023 acquisition of Applewood Fresh.

The company has announced the addition of a new general manager, Scott Morrison, and sales account manager, Mike Fuher, in the Michigan office. FirstFruits also recently promoted Tristan Hauck to senior sales account manager.

Morrison has built a career spanning transportation, logistics, production, finance, forecasting and food safety within packinghouse operations. He also led key operational, financial and data-tracking initiatives that strengthened facility performance and grower insight in previous roles.

Fuher joins the team with more than three decades of experience in the fresh produce industry, having held roles in both operations and sales. Fuher is known for his deep industry knowledge and long-standing relationships across the produce sector.

“Bringing Scott and Mike onto the team represents an exciting step forward for our Michigan operations at Applewood Fresh,” says Chuck Zeutenhorst, vice president of sales and marketing for FirstFruits. “Their experience and leadership will help strengthen our team and further our mission of delivering the highest quality fruit to our customers.”

Pure Flavor Acquires New Michigan Facility

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:13:53 GMT

Pure Flavor announced Nov. 10 that it has acquired a new, nearly 200,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Romulus, Mich. The company says the new facility will serve as a central hub for distribution of its fresh, greenhouse-grown produce and will reduce food miles and improve shipping efficiency.

As part of the realignment of its supply chain, Pure Flavor also announced it is consolidating its Texas distribution to a single centralized distribution point in Edinburg, Texas. The company describes both moves as part of its efforts to optimize its supply chain.

“This is an exciting step forward in our growth strategy,” says Jamie Moracci, CEO of Pure Flavor. “The new Michigan distribution center allows us to serve customers more quickly and sustainably, while our internal teams benefit from streamlined operations and improved logistics.”

The company expects to begin shipping from its new Romulus distribution center in Summer 2026.

All employees affected by changes to the Texas distribution network have been offered continued employment at the company’s other locations, along with severance packages and career transition assistance.

Michigan’s Proactive Water Withdrawal Tool Gets Update

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:27:05 GMT

Every good tool needs to be proverbially sharpened every now and then. Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) department has done this with the state’s key water tool.

On Sept. 22, the EGLE previewed the state’s updated Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT) to the public. Updates to the tool will be available for public use as of Wednesday, Sept. 24.

“Anyone who wants to register a water withdrawal in the state of Michigan has to use the Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool,” explains Lena Pappas, manager of EGLE’s groundwater and geological services section, who spoke to The Packer before the Sept. 22 preview event.

Presenting at the event, Hannah Arnett, a member of EGLE’s water use assessment unit, explained that WWAT is a screening tool that estimates the impact of a proposed water withdrawal on the local streams.

“The WWAT also acts as an accounting system which allows EGLE to track water use and identify cumulative estimate impacts from the registered water use for each watershed,” Arnett added.

About the WWAT

Michigan water use is regulated under a number of agreements. Key among these are the Great Lakes Charter — a 1985 agreement between the U.S. states and Canadian provinces that depend on the Great Lakes’ watersheds — and the Great Lakes Agreement and Compact . In general, these agreements require that water consumption in the Great Lakes’ watersheds must be managed to conserve the “precious public natural resources” that are the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin, as the charter says.

The WWAT was deployed in 2008 as part of Michigan abiding by these various agreements. Anyone in the state who wants to initiate a new or increased large quantity withdrawal — defined as having the capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day or more (i.e. a pump capacity of 70 gallons per minute or more) — has to register with EGLE by using the WWAT before they begin the withdrawal. The tool is way to get these water users a quick assessment on if their proposed withdrawal will negatively impact the watershed.

“The statute actually requires us to have a determination back to people within 10 days and so the tool was an essential part of making that piece work,” Pappas explains.

She adds that the tool and the agreements that helped create it were put in place before the need actually occurred.

“We had the benefit of being able to see some of the issues that had come up in other places,” she says, referencing more arid states like California and Texas, where international and interstate water sharing agreements are older. These older agreements were based on water conditions that no longer exist and have massive impact on the states’ agricultural water use.

“We could watch what was happening in other places and build around anticipated developments,” Pappas adds. “I think we just had the benefit of being further in the line.”

However, the WWAT has not been updated since 2014.

“The original tool was kind of a first-generation pass, and so then as the internet and everything has evolved, we wanted to be able to update it to bring it in line with current technology,” Pappas says.

Updates and Transparency

The updates to the 17-year-old tool aim to bring it up to date with current Michigan security guidelines and increase the transparency between EGLE and the state’s water users. However, not much will change in terms of functionality, Pappas says.

“The tool uses specific stream depletion algorithms, essentially, to estimate what the impact to resources would be,” she says. “That piece is going to stay very much the same.”

The first change users may experience is the need to log in via MiLogin before using the WWAT, as well as user interface updates that provide more options. Most substantial, however, will be the increased transparency, according to EGLE staff involved with the update.

“In addition to a more modern look, this update brings the ability to share state tools with water users,” Arnett says.

Some of the transparency includes the ability to see the current state of various watersheds, other withdrawal registrations in the area, and see increased granularity of data about an area. WWAT users will also be able to input site-specific parameters like transmissivity and storativity “for a more flexible and transparent assessment.”

“These changes have been made in response to recommendations in the 2020 report by the Water Use Advisory Council to share publicly the WWAT data on registrations, their individual impacts, and cumulative impacts,” Arnett explains. “EGLE has also gone a step farther and is sharing aquifer data and hydrological data in the WWAT as well.”

The current update that will be available to the public Sept. 24 is the first of two. The second update release, planned for early next year, will give the public access to two additional depletion estimate systems, one focused on confined aquifers and another focused on layered aquifers.

“The biggest goal is we are trying to be more transparent, showing you guys the data we are using when we are running registrations,” Arnett says.

Updates to the WWAT were tested in the major browsers of Edge, Chrome and Firefox, and the developers say common browser extensions should not hamper the tool’s functionality. They urge users to report any problems they might experience to WaterUseProgram@Michigan.gov .

MSU Potato Partnership Shows the Power of Ag Research

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:24:59 GMT

“Research is not a luxury that we have,” says Dr. Kelly Turner, executive director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. Instead, it is a necessity to keep Michigan agricultural operations profitable, she says.

Research done at Michigan State University’s AgBioResearch program plays a big role in that effort for all growers, including potato growers. Unfortunately, recent federal actions and changes in grant funding have hit the program just as it has research efforts and USDA-funded programs around the country.

“As federal funding gets cut or truncated, or even delayed, it has a real impact on potato research,” Turner says, explaining that potato breeding efforts are often time-consuming. And research, once halted, can’t just be picked back up again due to the short storage lifespan of potatoes compared to other crops’ seeds.

“So, when we have gaps in research, it pushes us back decades from where we could be and should be,” she says.

Lost, Delayed Funding Hurts Potatoes

“It’s a tremendous time of uncertainty for our faculty engaged in research and agriculture,” says Dr. George Smith, director of MSU’s AgBioResearch program.

One of the biggest recent blows to MSU researchers was the administration’s closure of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This meant the cancellation of $20 million in research funding at MSU through USAID. This funding loss ended several agricultural research programs, including the Feed the Future Global Biotech Potato Partnership .

While the program aimed to benefit farmers in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and Nigeria by developing potato varieties through biotechnology resistant to late blight — the disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine and is still an issue today — the research would have also benefited U.S. growers. Turner says the loss of the program is “definitely felt here in Michigan as well as across the nation.”

Smith adds that the funding freeze that happened earlier this year also had a negative impact, though grant money for some projects eventually came through.

“For some of our faculty, especially those working in plant based agriculture — growing food crops that are relevant in Michigan and beyond — they lost a whole growing season through lack of funding,” he says.

Smith anticipates that the new review rules for federal grantmaking will slow the research funding process down going forward. But he also voiced optimism for what they are doing at MSU, seeing it as in line with the administration’s goals to help farmers be more productive, to help them deal with the challenges they face and to help strengthen rural communities.

“The work we do is focused on that,” he says.

Industry Partnership Through Project GREEEN

AgBioResearch’s Project GREEEN is one such example. Smith describes the 27-year-old program as a unique effort that takes a holistic, integrated approach to public-private partnerships in ag research.

“All of our plant based agricultural community partners in Project GREEEN have the opportunity, every year, to list their top priorities,” he explains. These priorities address short-term challenges facing agricultural sectors and are included in requests for proposals. Industry partners help researchers write grants to address those priorities so that that the on-the-ground impact is kept front and center.

For potatoes, for example, these short-term priorities include the following:

Monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in Colorado Potato Beetle.
Developing management methods for Potato Virus Y, Mop Top Virus, and Tobacco Rattle.
Developing new varieties genetically resistant to pressing challenges such as Colorado Potato Beetle and Late Blight.
Improving tools and growing methods to increase water use efficiency, improve aquifer recharge, and reduce nutrient runoff.

Smith says that in the first 20 years of the program, the economic benefit to the state overall was over $2.5 billion.

“The annual funding for project green is a little over $5 million,” he adds. “So that’s a pretty good return on investment. That’s a direct reflection of the work we do.”

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission partners with AgBioResearch on Project GREEEN, directly funding research and partially funding a position-and-a-half at MSU’s potato outreach program, Turner says. She describes the partnership as helping to build the entire research pipeline to focus on the needs of Michigan’s potato industry on the ground.

“We have events where the seed growers, the researchers, the potato growers, the processors and the end users come together and they talk about what they like about different varieties, where their pinch points are and what needs they have in the future,” she explains “We take a look at those varieties, and if they don’t work for everybody in that pipeline and through that entire supply chain, then they don’t work.”

Turner says that, while hundreds of potato varieties are considered, few make it to commercialization. Though it can be time-consuming, the process produces valuable results for everyone involved, she says.

“The growers can be profitable and produce a highly nutritious product that works well for the processors,” she says. “Then they can turn around a good quality product that ends up in consumers’ homes where they have the best potato that’s available through modern science.”

The Importance of Research for Future Potatoes

The benefits of AgBioResearch’s work on potatoes has already had a big impact on the industry. Smith points to the variety breeding work done by David Douches, who has released dozens of varieties during his tenure at MSU, including varieties with a longer shelf life.

“Breeding potatoes that have a better storage capacity results in being able to process Michigan potatoes for a longer period of time without having to rely on importing potatoes from other states,” Smith explains. The impacts on the industry have been huge, he adds, benefiting growers and processors, and positively impacting jobs and revenues.

“That was all possible through an investment in research and funding through a whole host of sources, including the USDA, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and USAID,” he says.

Turner says the future needs of the Michigan potato industry include keeping up with storage diseases and looking to a future where inputs like water and fertilizer are in shorter supply. These are things research can and is working on.

Both Smith and Turner stress the importance of keeping produce production in the U.S. and profitable, calling it a national security concern. Potatoes, in particular, are important since they are stable crops both in the U.S. and abroad.

“If we are not growing potatoes here in the United States, they are going to come from other countries,” Turner says.

In a similar vein, Smith notes that over half of the fresh fruit consumed in the U.S. is imported already, with expectations of it increasing significantly in the next few years.

“We’re committed to doing the research to solve the problems to help our produce specialty crop growers in Michigan be able to be profitable in the face of extreme weather and new emerging pests and pathogens,” he says. “Research is the solution to those problems.”

He also opines that the U.S. is falling behind in agricultural research, whereas major competitors like China, the European Union and South American countries are growing their investments in research.

“We have always led the world in terms of agricultural innovation, and it’s more important than ever to do that,” he adds. “But that requires a federal investment.”

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Used Farm Equipment Swindle Alert: BBB Warns Virtual Vendor Vehicle Scams on the Rise

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:50:12 GMT

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning used equipment buyers nationwide about another sophisticated scam involving used farm equipment.

This particular grift, according to a press release from BBB, involved a fake online heavy equipment retailer impersonating a legitimate Missouri dealership, Cook Equipment & Trucking (Marble Hill, Mo.).

Buyers from across the U.S., some even from as far away as California and Arizona, reported losing a total of $223,000 after attempting to purchase heavy equipment and farm machinery through fraudulent websites and Facebook Marketplace ads.

Related: Essential Advice for Safely Buying Used Farm Machinery

Victims say they were “ghosted” after wiring money for equipment that never arrived. The BBB does not say whether the victims were able to dispute the fraudulent charges and claw back the proceeds from the scammers.

The reported fraudulent transactions include:

$45,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Oak Hills, Calif.
$32,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Hancock, Mich.
$29,500 for a trailer from a buyer in Amanda, Ohio
$29,000 for a trailer from a buyer in Greenville, N.C.
$28,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Eastman, Wis.
$31,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Des Moines, Iowa.
$29,000 for a skid steer from a buyer in Blue, Ariz.

BBB says the real Cook Equipment & Trucking, a small business operating since 2010, confirmed it has no website and is not affiliated with any online sales. The impersonators registered three fake websites, the most recent on July 14, and continue to run deceptive ads on social media.

“Those shopping for heavy equipment and farm machinery online should do their due diligence so they don’t fall victim to a virtual vehicle vendor scam,” says Michelle L. Corey, president and CEO, BBB St. Louis. “If an item is priced well below market value, that’s a red flag.”

To avoid getting swept up in an online virtual vehicle vendor scam the Better Business Bureau offers these tips:

Research the business at bbb.org or call 888-996-3887
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true
Verify the website and contact the business directly
Read all terms and understand refund policies
Use a credit card for added protection
Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker, your state attorney general, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center , and notify the social media platform where the fraud was discovered

To learn more about how to avoid online fraud in the used equipment auction world, check out BBB’s 2024 study on virtual vehicle vendor scams.

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Rice Lake Farms Marks Milestone in Operations

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:17:44 GMT

Rice Lake Farms Inc., a family-owned growing operation based in Grant, Mich., is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year.

The farm, established by Bob Veurink, specializes in non-GMO root vegetables such as turnips, celery root, carrots and red beets and offers several squash varieties in the fall and winter. Parsnips are particularly appealing, says Rick Sible, who handles business development and food safety.

“They are very rich in appearance, color and uniformity as well as Brix content,” he says, adding that the region’s fertile muck and marl soil helps assure top-quality vegetables.

Rice Lake Farms also employs best agricultural practices such as rotating crops and using non-GMO seed sources, Sible says. Products are kosher certified.

At first, the company typically sent its harvested product to an outside facility for packing, but about 15 years ago, Veurink’s son, John, the current owner and operator, converted an old cold storage and carrot-packing facility into a packing operation called Rice Lake Farms Packing LLC, Sible says. That enabled packing to take place in-house.

The company also purchases, stores and packs product from growing areas in places like California, Arizona and Texas.

“When the farming operation is idled, packing is very busy,” Sible explains. “We have invested very heavily in an extensive cold storage system that was built in the last 10 years, so we can ship year-round.”

The company employs 40 to 60 people in the farming and packing operations and farms 500-plus acres.

“Maximizing yields is essential, but the most important product we have physically speaking is our land, and No. 2 is our people,” Sible says. “We try to take care of both and create an environment that is safe, clean and systemized.”

Rice Lake Farms Packing has an extensive service area, shipping to and from anywhere from Los Angeles to Boston, he says. But the firm’s major distribution areas are Philadelphia, New York and Boston — a region that has 30 million to 40 million people to feed, he says.

Michigan Companies Report Brisk Beginnings for Business

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:46:42 GMT

Michigan produce distributors say summer sales are off to a strong start, and they expect robust business to continue throughout the season.

Rocky Produce

“Our summer line of fruits and vegetables is going full force,” says Dominic Russo, buying and selling director for Rocky Produce on the Detroit Produce Market.

Summer is a busy period with items like California grapes sizing up and stone fruit reaching maturity, he says.

“We’re looking forward to more promotable pricing,” he adds.

Locally grown tree fruit should kick off soon, and a number of local veg items will be starting as well.

“We do a good job of focusing on our offerings of local produce,” Russo says.

The company offers tomatoes, corn, peppers, leafy vegetables and “pretty much everything on the vegetable side,” he says. An organic program includes salad mixes, apples, berries and other items.

“We make use of the opportunity [for organics] when it’s there,” he says.

Rocky Produce, a fixture on the market since 1957, serves a number of independent customers who come by the market to pick up orders, and the company delivers product to others. The company has customers throughout the Midwest and into Canada.

Business as a whole has been very good so far this year, Russo says, noting they’ve had an up year so far.

Superior Sales, Hudsonville, Mich., which offers a variety of vegetable items, is undergoing a transition, says Randy Vande Guchte, president. Vande Guchte’s sons, Dakota and Jordan, will gradually take control of the company over the next three to five years. Shown (from left, standing) are Christopher Vande Guchte, director of food safety; Dakota Vande Guchte, sales; (from left, seated) Jordan Vande Guchte, vice president of sales; and Randy Vande Guchte. Jordan’s son and Dakota’s daughter are the children.

(Photo courtesy of Superior Sales)

Superior Sales

Superior Sales, Hudsonville, Mich., offers asparagus, fall squash and “all vegetable items that are grown throughout the summer” except potatoes and onions, says Randy Vande Guchte, company president.

“We have a broad range of items for our customers to choose from for a one-stop shop,” he says.

But the company is putting particular emphasis on its tray pack corn and its celery sticks programs this year.

“We increased tray pack corn and celery sticks quite a bit this year,” Vande Guchte says.

Superior Sales puts up its own private label for each of those items and also packs some celery sticks in chain stores’ labels.

Overall sales at the company were up in May and June and continuing the trend in July, he says.

Growing conditions have been good for the firm’s producers in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The company mostly serves customers east of the Mississippi and loads out of Hudsonville and Benton Harbor, Mich.

Superior Sales is undergoing a transition. Vande Guchte’s sons, Dakota and Jordan, will gradually take over control of the company over the next three to five years.

“It’s time to transition over to the next generation,” Vande Guchte says.

Shown from left, Phil Riggio, director of sales; Dominic Riggio Jr., salesman; and Dominic Riggio, company president, are ready for strong summer sales at Riggio Distribution Co. on the Detroit Produce Terminal.

(Photo courtesy of Riggio Distribution Co.)

Riggio Distribution

Riggio Distribution Co. on the Detroit Produce Terminal serves independent retailers, national chain stores, broad line distributors, independent foodservice operators and food manufacturers throughout the Greater Midwest, says Dominic Riggio, company president.

“Between conventional and organic [produce], we carry more than 600 products,” he says.

Summertime business is heavy on local produce like stone fruit and berries along with the company’s entire product lines, Riggio says. Offerings include melons, citrus, tropical fruit, cooking vegetables and salad vegetables.

“We source from all major growing areas year-round,” he adds. “And we stock and handle a full line of organic products daily.”

Tariffs and ICE

As of late July, produce suppliers say they hadn’t been seriously affected by President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs or by ICE immigration crackdowns.

“Some tariffs have caused some delays or issues, but we put our focus on what is working and work through the challenges we can’t control, like the tariffs,” Russo says.

“There’s been nothing that’s too hard for us to get our heads around and navigate through,” he adds.

Regarding immigration, Russo says he heard some growers’ migrant workers had not shown up during the spring, but there had been no serious consequences.

“Nothing to the level where it stopped us from getting produce,” he says.

Vande Guchte says he is not aware of any consequences of tariffs so far.

“If they put a tariff on Canadian product, it would probably mean we could get more money for American product,” he says. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not.”

And he says he was not aware of any problems with ICE at his operation or at his growers’ locations.

“I think a lot of people are nervous about ICE coming in, but I think they’re looking for criminals,” he says. “I don’t think they’re look for people who are here illegally but are working.”

Favorable Conditions Set the Stage for Good Michigan Apple Crop

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 22:53:50 GMT

Michigan apple marketers are preparing for the start of a new season in the state, where more than 775 family-run farms grow 14.9 million trees on 34,500 acres.

“Michigan is the second-largest apple-producing state, behind Washington,” says Shelby Miller, marketing and business development specialist with Sparta, Mich.-based Applewood Fresh. “Apples are Michigan’s most valuable fruit crop, representing about 71% of fruit-derived cash income.”

It was a favorable spring, once again, and while there were some isolated hailstorms in the early part of the season, it shouldn’t impact harvest volumes.

“We didn’t experience a frost event in spring, and while there have been some pockets of hail, it won’t affect the overall season volume,” says Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Riveridge Produce Marketing in Sparta.

Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, says it’s been a good season so far for growers.

“We were fortunate to experience ideal spring conditions again this year with a nice gradual warm-up,” she says. “We did have some storms with hail that hit some localized areas, but overall conditions have been good.”

However, with a little time remaining before harvest, Ken Korson, apple category manager for Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce says a lot is still yet to be determined.

“The next two months will determine the size of our fruit,” he says. “As long as we receive timely rains, we should be in good shape. Right now, we are a little bit behind last year, but we can catch up with more rain and warm weather.”

Miller also says it’s been a hot summer for growers, “but nothing out of the ordinary from the beautiful state of Michigan.”

While the official first crop projection won’t be released until mid-August, the crop size looks to be on par with 2024, says Ken Korson, apple category manager for Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce.

(Photo courtesy of North Bay Produce)

Season Projections

While the official first crop projection won’t be released until after the U.S. Apple Outlook Conference in mid-August, Korson says the crop size looks to be on par with 2024.

“We still have significant growth expected over the next two months,” he says.

Smith says things are moving along as usual, progressing toward harvest.

“We are preparing to release our expected harvest dates for the main varieties we grow here,” she says. “The industry is optimistic.”

Miller also says she expects the 2025-26 crop to be in line with similar crops from the past few years.

“Our crop outcome will be like last year and along the five-year average, at an estimated 30 million bushels; 50/50 for fresh versus process markets,” she says.

Taylor says that Riveridge “anticipates this year’s harvest to be slightly larger than last year’s.”

Concerns for the Season

As expected, Mother Nature is on the minds of apple marketers even as harvest nears, Korson says.

“The biggest concern this time of year for the harvest is weather,” Korson says. “We’re always worried about enough rain, but not too much, and hail is always a concern also.”

Taylor agrees and notes, “Very wet weather can delay how quickly we can get the fruit off the tree, and a week of 90 degrees that’s out of the ordinary can quickly mature a crop.”

Miller says other states’ production is also a matter of focus, as it can impact volumes at retail.

“One of the biggest concerns heading into harvest this year is the size of Washington’s Honeycrisp crop, which is expected to be one of the largest on record,” she says. “This level of volume has a significant impact on retail space and pricing, putting added pressure on other apple varieties to compete for shelf placement.”

Labor and trade are also top of mind for Michigan apple growers, Smith says.

“Growers need skilled labor to harvest apples. All apples are harvested by hand, so many workers are needed,” she says. “Trade barriers would also be detrimental to the Michigan Apple industry, mainly with the need for Washington to be able to export a good chunk of their crop — it allows for space in the domestic market for apples from other states.”

Transitions in the State

Taylor says growers in Michigan have removed older orchards and put in more high-density plantings, which helps both grow and stabilize the industry for the future.

“We have more production on fewer acres thanks to recent plantings,” she says.

Miller says these high-density orchards with more trees per acre offer more consistent apple volumes each year.

“It also supports improved fruit quality and more efficient harvests as growers adopt new technologies and modern growing techniques,” she says.

Some of the new technologies include orchard platforms to help harvest the fruit in these modern growing systems.

“Growers are using more platforms and high-density plantings,” she says. “Also, some growers establish their own nurseries, ensuring they get the varieties and strains they need for their orchards.”

Korson says as these growers remove the older orchards, they choose to install irrigation systems in the new orchards, which creates a better crop.

“We are cultivating most of our fruit in high-density plantings that are irrigated, which helps enhance the color and size of our fruit,” he says.

Smith says the Michigan Apple Committee helps fund research to find solutions and innovations to growers’ production and post-production challenges.

“We are fortunate to have Michigan State University nearby as a leading agricultural institution with sought-after researchers and thought leaders,” she says. “We have a great relationship with the researchers and communicate often about grower and industry needs.”

Shelby Miller, marketing and business development specialist with Sparta, Mich.-based Applewood Fresh, says it’s important to help educate consumers about the different varieties available — be it through marketing materials or activations.

(Photo: lado2016, Adobe Stock)

Variety Trends

Newer premium varieties have gained traction, marketers say.

“Our early-season club varieties, Rave and SweeTango, continue to gain momentum year after year, driven by increased production and enhanced color and growing standards,” Miller says. “Premium flavor varieties continue to grow.”

And Smith says that while gala continues to be the state’s top seller, “Ambrosia and EverCrisp continue to gain traction.”

Taylor says thanks to Michigan’s proximity to the Great Lakes, the climate is perfect for growing sweet and juicy apples.

“That’s been proven time and time again with tasting panels on Honeycrisp,” she says. “Growers have continued to invest in this consumer favorite, and the Michigan taste preference is very real.”

And she says growers continue to invest in more high-color strains of well-known varieties.

“There will be more and more volume of higher color fruit in popular varieties thanks to strains coming into production — namely gala, fuji and Honeycrisp,”
Taylor explains.

Marketing Opportunities

Korson says Michigan apples continue to offer a good value at the retail level.

“While everything has increased significantly due to inflation, apples have remained a very good value for consumers,” he says.

Taylor says touting the health benefits of apples can help drive consumption this fall.

“Look for more signage, language and visuals that promote apples as part of a lifestyle that is active and healthy,” she says.

Health benefits, convenience for snacking and affordability continue to propel sales, Smith says.

“We continue to focus our consumer marketing efforts on social media with messaging about Michigan apples as a healthy, affordable and convenient fruit
for snacking or incorporating into meals,” Smith explains.

Korson also says retailers should use eye-catching displays in high-impact locations to highlight Michigan apples.

And Miller says it’s important to help educate consumers about the different varieties available — be it through marketing materials or activations.

“Store flyers, displays and other in-store activations help impact a consumer’s decision to pick one variety over another,” she says. “It is essential to support in-store demos, highlighting the classic try-before-buy sampling programs.”

Consumers also want to learn more about where their food comes from.

“Consumer data continues to tell us that shoppers want to know the origin of their food,” she says. “Particularly in the local regions — buying local is a top purchase driver for many consumers.”

Michigan State University Releases First Cost of Blueberry Production Study

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:42:47 GMT

Michigan State University has released the findings of its first cost of highbush blueberry production study in the state. The results show that production hit $10,000 per acre in 2024, and MSU reports that figure matches revenues for the average blueberry field in the state.

The study’s findings show the average grower operates at an economic breakeven, with an income for growers of about $240 per acre.

Also of note in the study is that input costs for blueberry growers make up about 29% of production costs. While harvest costs, which include picking and fresh packing, make up about 56% of the costs.

Due to weather conditions and sort-outs from packing lines, MSU estimates the current industry split in the state is about 54% fresh and 46% processed.

Chris Bardenhagen, a farm business management educator with Michigan State University Extension, says this was the first time that the university put together a comprehensive study, calling this one foundational. The plan is to continue these studies every five or seven years moving forward.

“These are really handy for benchmarking and for comparison in the future,” he says. “It gives growers a window into what the average grower is doing.”

Bardenhagen says cost of production studies were popular in the past but fell by the wayside; now they’re garnering attention again as growers face rising input costs.

“The landscape is changing in the blueberry industry in Michigan, and there’s more effort toward looking at different varieties that different quality aspects,” he says.

Bardenhagen notes that, unlike other crops, highbush blueberry plants have a long life cycle, but the industry has hit a crossroads where growers seek to compare more cultural activities and pruning and how that impacts overall profitability.

Learn more about the study and download it here .

Diversity is Key When It Comes to Michigan Produce

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:39:30 GMT

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.”

What Makes Michigan So Great for Ag?

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:52:29 GMT

A study conducted by Michigan State University highlights the unique role that specialty crops play in the state’s economy, contributing about $6.3 billion and creating about 41,000 full-time jobs.

Many of these Michigan farms grow a diverse range of crops, from apples to asparagus to vegetables. It is the diversity that sets Michigan specialty crops apart, coupled with the state’s unique climate.

Juliette McAvoy, a second-generation grower, shares a little bit about what sets Michigan produce apart. Her family’s orchard, on the northwest coast of the state’s lower peninsula is about 3 miles inland from Lake Michigan and about 45 minutes north of Traverse City.

“We grow a lot of different stuff on our farm starting with asparagus which we’re harvesting right now strawberries, sweet cherries, tart cherries, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines, apples and a whole bunch of veggies and random stuff in between,” she says. “We really have a lot going on all the way from May to October and our focus on our farm is to bring people here. We do a lot of agritourism, where people can come pick something for almost three months or four months out of the year.”

Diversification, McAvoy says, is the key to her family’s business.

“We are very diversified and that has been intentional not only does it reduce risk but my father who started the the business over 45 years ago he learned quickly that in order to get labor that you’ve trained and you like you needed to be able to you wanted to keep them in for as long as possible,” she says. “We’ve intentionally tried to expand our growing season beyond just sweet cherries which is you know maybe three or four weeks in July.”

McAvoy says this diversification has helped drive people to visit her family’s farm markets for fresh produce, baked goods and more.

And as for what makes Michigan such a great state to grow a variety of different fresh produce offerings? The lake, of course.

“Lake Michigan plays a really big role into why this is such a good fruit growing region and because it tempers the fluctuations in temperature,” she says. “The lake keeps our winters a little milder than if you were inland more and then we our springs are a little cooler than if you’re inland more. That’s one of the reasons why we can still grow fruit this far north.”

McAvoy says the drumlins, which are the ridges left after the glaciers receded thousands of years ago helped creat sloping hill and the moderate temperatures which also helps growers.

“These sloping hills paired with the lake as a moderator of temperature really make this one of the there’s special fruit growing regions here in Michigan,” she says. “We also think it’s quite beautiful and we’re very lucky to be able to live here and work here.”

Michigan asparagus campaign to 'meet consumers where they are'

Thu, 15 May 2025 18:18:17 GMT

The 2025 Michigan asparagus season is officially underway, and growers throughout the state are reporting excellent quality, just in time for consumers looking to incorporate fresh, locally grown vegetables into their meals, according to a news release from the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.

The state has over 100 farm families dedicated to producing high-quality asparagus for markets across the U.S., the release said. In response to the continued evolution of consumer behavior since the COVID-19 pandemic, MAAB said it is implementing a marketing campaign that bridges the digital and in-store experience.

“Our 2025 campaign is designed to meet consumers where they are — whether online, in-store, or on-screen,” said Jamie Clover Adams, MAAB executive director. “Michigan asparagus deserves to be the centerpiece of the plate this season, and our strategy reflects that.”

This year’s integrated campaign includes trade advertising, daily social media content, influencer collaborations, newsletters, recipe development, connected TV advertising and a retail program. MAAB said these efforts aim to boost awareness of Michigan asparagus’ seasonality, availability and culinary versatility across a wide range of consumers.

“Michigan asparagus is nutritious, flavorful and incredibly versatile,” said Sarah Greiner, MAAB chair. “By building visibility and supporting local retail programs, growers are confident that ‘locally grown, locally sold’ will ensure consumers actively seek out Michigan-grown asparagus in stores.”

The influencer program includes an in-person farm tour, recipe development and educational videos touting the fresh and flavorful attributes of Michigan asparagus. Participating creators span nutrition, culinary and lifestyle categories, collectively reaching an audience of more than 2.2 million followers, according to the release.

To further amplify the message, connected TV advertising will run on Hulu and across the Disney streaming portfolio, using a lighthearted 15-second video to let consumers know Michigan asparagus is available now. MAAB said this tactic is designed to resonate with health-conscious and lifestyle-driven households.

MAAB encourages retailers to contact it for POS materials to support their own promotional efforts. The materials are part of a broader marketing strategy designed to increase visibility and drive sales through in-store and digital channels.

With health and wellness, sustainability and local sourcing continuing to shape consumer decisions, “buy local” and “Michigan grown” messaging remains a powerful way for retailers to elevate Michigan asparagus and attract engaged, value-driven customers, according to MAAB.

BelleHarvest plans for busy summer and fall for Michigan produce

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:11:37 GMT

BelleHarvest will be marketing a full Michigan dry veg program, cider, and apple program through the summer and fall, says Nick Teriaca, director of sales and procurement for the Belding, Mich.-based marketer.

“What excites me about this season is the opportunity to showcase Michigan’s rich agricultural heritage and the hard work of our farmers,” Teriaca said. “It’s a chance to connect consumers with produce of our region and share the story of each of our growers.”

Teriaca said it was too early to determine precise expectations for the 2024 Michigan apple crop.

“We are expecting a robust apple crop as it currently stands,” he said. “Compared to the previous year, forecasts suggest that this year’s crop is on par with last season, barring any unforeseen weather events.”

Highlights from the BelleHarvest marketing plan for apples this season include promotions highlighting the quality of Michigan apples, in-store marketing materials and collaborations with retailers, and initiatives focusing on sustainability or community involvement, Teriaca said.

“Emphasizing the unique varieties that grow in Michigan will also be part of the strategy to distinguish the state’s apples from others in the market,” he said.

BelleHarvest invests in innovations in farming techniques, sustainability efforts and new partnerships aimed at enhancing the overall supply chain and customer experience, Teriaca said.

“We are excited to provide our apple cider on a much larger scale this year and expand marketing partnerships with companies such as Paramount Pictures and the Paw Patrol franchise,” he said.

Michigan produce finds strong demand at Riggio Distribution

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:36:29 GMT

Michigan produce is a big deal for Detroit-based Riggio Distribution Co.

The company uses approximately 30 Michigan produce suppliers and growers and enjoys strong demand for Michigan produce, said company executive Andy Leone.

As an anchor tenant at the Detroit Produce Terminal, Riggio Distribution Co. services customers in the foodservice and retail industry. The company’s full line of fresh fruits and vegetables is shipped and received every day of the week from the terminal facility and sent to corporate and independent customers of all sizes, according to the company’s website.

The company offers retail services, such as customized packing, sales planning and merchandising assistance. The distributor employs a fleet of refrigerated trucks, offering warehouse-to-warehouse and direct-store delivery to corporate and independent accounts.

Michigan Apple Committee's website has a new look for consumers

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:55:44 GMT

The Lansing-based Michigan Apple Committee has redesigned its website for the 2023 crop year.

The consumer-facing website provides a wealth of information for apple lovers, including recipes, health information, varietal information and grower biographies, according to a news release.

“The goal of our website is to share a positive Michigan Apple experience with consumers,” Michigan Apple Committee Executive Director Diane Smith said in the release. “Whether it’s usage tips, finding a farm market or cider mill or simply finding out when their favorite variety is expected to be harvested, consumers can use our site to ‘get to know’ the Michigan apple industry and be a part of the tradition of apple production in our state.”

The committee says the new site has a “clean aesthetic that maintains the Michigan Apple brand” and features photography and videography that is appeals to consumers.

“Our Google Analytics showed us that consumers most often visit our Recipes, Where to Find, and Meet the Growers pages, so we put a lot of effort into enhancing that content and making it easy to navigate,” Smith said. “Additionally, technology and platform updates mean a more user-friendly experience for consumers and more efficient updates for our staff.”

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan Apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. See the revamped website at michiganapples.com .

Related: Michigan Apple Committee cuts retail marketing efforts

Related: Michigan produce sees strong summer sales

Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board highlights marketing efforts for 2023 season

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 14:32:48 GMT

As the Michigan asparagus season ends, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board takes stock of the highlights of the 2023 season, which include retail promotions, a new website, social promotions and a giveaway collaboration.

“As we end of the season, we are proud that our marketing efforts played a role in driving sales,” Jamie Clover Adams, executive director of the board, said in a news release. “But looking ahead we know we still have work to do for the 2024 season and beyond to help buyers and consumers understand the quality opportunity in Michigan asparagus and lock in sales that support our domestic growers.”

The asparagus season began with the launch of a website that offered a more user-friendly experience providing visitors the opportunity to access additional content that is interactive and informative including recipes and grower highlights, according to the release.

Related news: Summer video series puts spotlight on Michigan asparagus

The board worked with three influencers who created 17 recipes and helped yield over 308,038 impressions across social media on both the Michigan Asparagus pages on Facebook and Instagram . Throughout the season, online food influencers were part of the hype machine developing new recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner to provide meal inspiration and incentivize purchases, according to the release.

The buzz around the flavorful and tender nature of asparagus was apparent through over 45,025,273 million impressions generated through national food media and regular content on social, the board said.

New in 2023 was a social giveaway collaboration with American Kitchen . The “Cooking the American Dream Giveaway” highlighted American grown and American made products. The storytelling also included a new video series highlighting the delectable attributes and benefits of Michigan asparagus.

If online engagement created the inspiration, retailers did their part with the promotions that included digital promos, in-store displays and demos to incentivize purchase, the board said.

Following another large crop, Michigan apple experts offer insight for retailers

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:29:48 GMT

The U.S. Apple Association said inventories as of December 2023 were up about 33% over this same time last year. Buoyed by a supersized crop this year, marketers say this season promises to offer retailers ample opportunities to put the spotlight on apples.

To get a pulse on the apple industry, The Packer interviewed growers and packers in key apple-producing states — such as Michigan — to learn about the opportunities available for retailers this season.

Related: Washington’s apple crop rebounds, giving retailers promotion opportunities aplenty

Michigan

The 2023 season was unusual for Michigan apple growers. Diane Smith, executive director for Michigan Apples, said growers experienced some localized frost damage in the spring but still had a great growing year.

Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Riveridge Produce Marketing, an integrated marketer, packer and shipper in Sparta, Mich., agreed, noting the growing season was close to ideal with a year of low disease pressure.

“That set us up for really good value, outstanding and consistent quality,” she said. “But with that, it was an unexpected crop because the previous year was a really big crop.”

Smith said the current USDA estimate for the state in 2023 is 32 million bushels. Growers in the state produced 32,380,952 bushels in 2022.

“Quality has been excellent with good pack-outs and great appearance and flavor,” Smith said. “With a similar sized crop last year [in 2022], our industry has proven success in not only producing large, good-quality crops, but also marketing them throughout the spring and into summer.”

Taylor said while it’s too early to judge how the 2024-25 season will pan out, Riveridge growers expect things to come down to earth a little bit after two large crops.

“Even though we had those two high-volume seasons, they are expecting a little bit of a reality and a rest period, but that’s still 85% to 90% of the volume, which is a lot of volume,” she said.

Smith and Taylor said labor costs will be a major challenge for Michigan growers in 2024. Smith said the Adverse Effect Wage Rate will increase about 7% to $18.50 an hour.

“Unfortunately, growers continue to face rising costs of production and labor and onerous regulatory requirements that could have a significant impact on the future of the U.S. apple industry,” Smith said.

Variety report

Gala takes the top spot in terms of the number of acres planted in the state, Smith said. Honeycrisp, fuji and cripps pink remain popular with consumers, too.

“EverCrisp and Ambrosia are growing in popularity as well,” she said. “Many people love traditional favorites like mcintosh, red delicious and golden delicious as well.”

Taylor said EverCrisp and Ambrosia are two varieties Riveridge will focus on in the new year.

“We can say we’re biased because we’re in Michigan, but there’s certain varieties that taste better [grown] in Washington, taste better [grown] in New York or taste better [grown] in Michigan. Ambrosia is one of those that tastes better out of Michigan,” she said.

Marketing

Taylor said a key to getting consumers — and retailers — to devote space and dollars to Ambrosia is through taste testing. She said Riveridge plans to offer several promotions that retailers can choose from.

She said she also expects to do more direct marketing to consumers this year. Taylor said she’s noticed how consumers want to interface directly with Riveridge on social media, so she plans to use social media to drive interest in Ambrosia.

“Apples are really a word-of-mouth thing,” she said.

Taylor said EverCrisp is another apple slowly gaining traction. Riveridge doesn’t begin promoting EverCrisp until January, which she said is a good time to add new interest in apples.

“It’s a nice alternative to Honeycrisp,” she said.

Smith said Michigan Apples provides retail dietician kits designed by Shari Steinbach, the official dietitian of the organization, to retailers as a turnkey resource to increase interest in apples, especially as many consumers put a focus on health and wellness at the start of a new year.

“Everyone knows that apples have an overwhelming number of health benefits, and we want to make sure consumers are thinking about those benefits when they are doing their shopping,” Smith said.

Marketing opportunities abound with large apple crop this season

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:47:51 GMT

The U.S. Apple Association said inventories as of December 2023 were up about 33% over this same time last year. Buoyed by a supersized crop this year, marketers say this season promises to offer retailers ample opportunities to put the spotlight on apples.

To get a pulse on the apple industry, The Packer interviewed growers and packers in key apple-producing states — Washington, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania — to learn about the opportunities available for retailers this season.

The industry as a whole

Don Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Elgin, Minn.-based Wescott Agri Products, famous for Honeybear-brand apples, sees the big picture of the industry, working with growers in Washington, New York and the Midwest.

Roper said as more young orchards come into full production in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic, it adds to the already increasing production in Washington.

“If you look at the oversupply, it’s directly impacting pricing,” he said. “These growing regions of the Northeast, of the Midwest and even of Washington, their profile is to have big crops. We’re on a path where we could be looking at potentially oversupply for several years.”

Roper said prices haven’t helped move supply as much as is likely needed for the size of this crop.

“The reality is that we probably haven’t seen the price decreases at retail that the size of the crop would want,” he said. “Movement is average to maybe above average at best.”

An advantage the industry has is the number of varieties available, said Roper, likening it to the flavor profiles and styles of wine.

“The quality of new apple varieties out there, they are head and shoulders better,” he said.

Honeybear offers two notable varieties — Pazzaz and Honey Moon — which he said will play into Honeybear’s marketing efforts this year.

“We believe we have to create new flavors to create demand to help drive consumption,” he said. “We’ve been increasing production and increasing distribution across the U.S. A bunch of programs are kicking off here in the new year — regional programs that are kicking off from coast to coast.”

A look at key apple-producing states

Washington

After a year of extremes for growers with snow and frost in late spring, poor pollination and hail and weather events, Washington rebounded in 2023, increasing production by about 38% year over year, according to figures from the U.S. Apple Association. Read the full story here: Washington’s apple crop rebounds, giving retailers promotion opportunities aplenty .

Michigan

Michigan apple growers experienced some localized frost damage in the spring but still had a great growing year. Read the full story here: Following another large crop, Michigan apple experts offer insight for retailers .

New York

Despite weather challenges this season, growers “look hopeful for ’24,” said Cynthia Haskins, president and CEO of New York Apples. “We have a good mix of different apple varieties that are out there ...” Read the full story here: Focus on flavor profiles, health benefits key for New York apple marketing efforts .

Pennsylvania

The Keystone State experienced frost, freeze, droughts and big rains. Growers saw cosmetic issues on certain varieties such as Honeycrisp and fuji. With a large crop and consumption that’s been relatively unchanged, apple marketers across the country said there is a need to boost fresh apple consumption domestically. Read the full story here: Bountiful apple crop brings opportunities — and a challenge to grow consumption .

Study shows $2.5B impact of potatoes on Michigan's economy

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 21:11:30 GMT

A new report released by the Michigan Potato Industry Commission shows the economic benefits the Michigan potato industry has on the state’s economy.

The commission, which shared the results of this report in a news release and webinar, said the state’s potato industry contributes more than $2.5 billion to the state’s gross domestic product and supports 21,700 jobs in the state, generating around $832 million in wages.

“In 2022 alone, this contribution, which stems from both direct and indirect economic activity, includes nearly $1.5 billion in direct economic activity resulting from growing, processing wholesaling and retailing potatoes and potato products,” Ryan Norton, chair of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and farm manager at Walther Farms in Three Rivers, Mich., said during the webinar. “It also factors an additional $1 billion in indirect activity from the food service industry and through the household consumption of Michigan-grown potatoes.”

The commission said the study found that potatoes are the second-largest specialty crop grown in the state, adding that Michigan produces about 1.9 billion pounds of potatoes for seed, fresh, frozen, dehydrated and processing industries. More than 70% of potatoes grown in Michigan go to the chip industry.

The study says 1 in 4 bags of potato chips in the U.S. contains Michigan-grown potatoes.

“The sales of these potatoes generated more than $246 million [in 2022] alone. This puts Michigan as the eighth-largest state in the nation in terms of potato production and sixth in terms of sales,” Phil Gusmano, vice president of purchasing of Detroit-based Better Made Snack Foods and commissioner on the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, said during the webinar.

Economists at Michigan State University authored the study. The report and its key takeaways can be found at MIPotato.com/NoSmallPotatoes .

Kelly Turner, executive director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, said the organization will use the survey results when state delegates travel to Washington, D.C., for the National Potato Council’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill at the end of February.

North Bay Produce collaborating on sustainability strategy

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:46:19 GMT

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce says it is working on a comprehensive sustainability strategy focusing on climate-smart agriculture, reducing plastic packaging and engaging growers in environmental stewardship.

To help develop a sustainability strategy that will continue driving long-term economic growth and support its network of growers, the grower-owned cooperative is receiving help from the fresh produce sustainability firm Measure to Improve, according to a news release.

North Bay Produce said it will work with Measure to Improve to build upon work already done, prioritize and focus its sustainability efforts and ensure that its vast network of growers are supported and involved in the process.

“Our sustainability strategy is about collaboration and partnership,” Jennifer Pulcipher, North Bay Produce director of food safety and sustainability, said in the release. “We want to meet our cooperative members where they are on this journey and for them to understand the value of their sustainability efforts. Measure to Improve holds similar values to North Bay Produce and understands the level of depth of our cooperative. We are excited to work in partnership with them to enhance our sustainability initiatives and look forward to sharing more about our progress in the coming year.”

North Bay Produce has also added to its team at its Traverse City headquarters to support the company’s sustainability strategy and build on the program’s foundation, the release said.

Instacart partnership seeks to improve food access for expectant mothers

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:27:05 GMT

Molina Healthcare of Michigan says it has partnered with Instacart to address food insecurity for expectant mothers.

A joint program will allow expectant moms identified as facing food insecurity to receive 18 months of Instacart+, offering online grocery shopping and free delivery from grocers on Instacart for pre-selected members identified as having specific social needs, according to a news release. Molina said the partnership is a part of its multifaceted effort to improve equity for underserved populations throughout Michigan.

According to the release, a study on preterm births and food insecurity found pregnant women who live more than 1.5 miles from a supermarket are three times more likely to have a child with low birth weight. Study participants said shopping habits were based more on convenience than food quality. The Instacart+ membership allows Molina members to enjoy both convenience and access to healthy options, the release said.

“Our Instacart partnership is an important investment in Molina members as we believe all children deserve a healthy start to life and that begins with a healthy mom,” said Terrisca Des Jardins, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Michigan. “Reducing disparities in health outcomes is a top priority and this offering, combined with healthy menus and recipes informed by Molina’s registered dietitians, fosters good eating habits that benefit both mother and child.”

“Through our partnership with Molina, we’re making healthy eating more accessible, affordable and convenient for expectant moms facing food insecurity,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, vice president and general manager of health for Instacart. “Instacart provides families with access to same-day delivery of fresh groceries from trusted local retailers and offers tools that make expert nutrition guidance from health leaders like Molina easy to follow and shop from. We’re proud to support this initiative, using technology to help moms adopt healthier habits that benefit both their own well-being and the health and development of their babies.”

In addition to the Instacart+ membership, the company said selected members will also receive monthly $100 Instacart Health Fresh Funds stipends for the first nine months of the program to use for nutritious foods from retailers on Instacart. Members can combine their Fresh Funds, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and personal funds at checkout when purchasing their groceries online.

Molina said its Instacart program is part of the grocery technology company’s Instacart Health initiative, designed to improve nutrition security, make healthy choices easier and scale food as medicine programs to support public health. Instacart has tools to help members manage prenatal and postnatal health through nutrition access and education, the release said.

Summer sales soar in Michigan

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:12:40 GMT

It’s the peak of the summer season, and business seems to be heating up for many Michigan produce distributors.

“Summer months provide an opportunity for many new sales opportunities, from California fruit to local vegetables and everything in between,” said Dominic Riggio, president of Riggio Distribution Co. on the Detroit Produce Terminal.

Organic produce plays an important role at Riggio Distribution.

“At RDC, we offer and stock close to 100 organic SKUs daily,” Riggio said. “The quality, availability and consistency of organic produce has greatly improved over the years, and those items have become regular stocked items that our customers rely on us for.”

The company strives to offer a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, he said.

Riggio Distribution Co. on the Detroit Produce Terminal strives to offer a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, says Dominic Riggio, president. Organic produce plays an important role at the company. “At RDC, we offer and stock close to 100 organic SKUs daily,” he says.

(Photo courtesy of Riggio Distribution Co.)

Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. on the Detroit Produce Terminal also offers a full line of produce and focuses on local Michigan items during the summer, said Jordan Grainger, vice president of sales and business development.

“People try to use as much local product as possible at this time of year,” he said.

Berries, grapes, melons and potatoes are some of the bestselling items during the summer, he said. In the fall, the company adds gourds, fall squash and pumpkins as needed.

The wholesaler also can ship a full line of organic items on request.

Good weather and good growing conditions mean quality should be good throughout the summer as long as the weather holds, he said. Volume should be similar to last year.

Michigan Congressman Shri Thanedar visited Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. on the Detroit Produce Terminal following the International Fresh Produce Association’s Washington, D.C., Conference in June. The company strives to offer a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, says Jordan Grainger, vice president of sales and business development.

(Photo courtesy of Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc.)

Superior Sales Inc., Hudsonville, Mich., was seeing improved quality the last week of July after the summer season got off to a somewhat bumpy start, said Randy Vande Guchte, president.

“We’ve had a lot of crazy weather between rain and heat,” he said. “We’ve had pollination issues on some of our dry veg, like cucumbers, bell peppers and squash.”

Early supplies on those items were light.

“Business as a whole is a little bit slower until you hit Labor Day,” he said, due in part to flourishing backyard gardens.

The company was kicking off its corn program in late July.

“That crop looks pretty good,” Vande Guchte said.

Squash, cucumbers and beans also were coming in.

“The bean market is really good right now,” he said.

Vande Guchte said he was pleased with this year’s spring asparagus deal.

“It did move well,” he said. “I was kind of surprised, I thought that with higher inflation we wouldn’t move as much, but the people who pick up that kind of product can afford it.”

Superior Sales focuses on local products.

“All of our growers are located in the state of Michigan, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio,” he said. “Everybody in Michigan and in the Midwest promotes local.”

Summer vegetable items will run until around Sept. 20 or into early October, then the company will switch to things like hard squash and root vegetables.

Pumpkins and ornamentals will be available for fall.

BelleHarvest Sales Inc., Belding, Mich., offers a summer dry vegetable program that includes green bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers and tomatoes, said Nick Teriaca, vice president of sales and marketing.

The program was just getting underway the week of July 17.

“Overall, it’s looking good,” Teriaca said. “Volume is there, demand is there; its’ shaping up like a typical year.”

Zucchini and yellow squash had a strong pull early in the year, he said, while tomatoes seem to be more popular in the fall.

Broccoli and cauliflower are good sellers in the early fall, and green bell peppers are more popular later in the year, Teriaca said.

Michigan produce distributors are doing their best to deal with inflation.

“The produce industry is not immune to inflation,” Riggio said. “Costs have gone up, and that is reflected in sales, however, fresh fruits and vegetables remain a great value for their cost as well as their nutritional value.”

Ben B. Schwartz has not seen a drop in sales, but Grainger said that might be happening at retail and foodservice level.

Labor costs had been rising steadily, but they seem to finally have stalled, at least at warehouse level.

“I haven’t seen an increase in the past year,” he said.

High labor costs have hit growers the hardest, said Vande Guchte of Superior Sales.

“The H-2A hourly wage and the expense that goes along with it increases every year,” he said. “It’s putting a lot of pressure on the growers to be able to make money, because if you don’t get more dollars for your product, you can’t cover your increased costs for your labor.”

Growers expecting strong Michigan apple crop

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:08:12 GMT

Michigan apple growers are gearing up for another productive year, though volume may be slightly lower than 2023.

The Great Lakes State, aka the Wolverine State, produced nearly 32 million bushels — or 1.34 billion pounds — of apples in 2023, according to the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service.

The official crop estimate for this year will be announced at the USApple Outlook conference in Chicago on Aug. 16, however, Diane Smith, executive director of the Lansing-based Michigan Apple Committee, said it looks like the state’s growers will have another good-sized crop, “but it likely won’t reach 30 million bushels.”

The harvest will start early this year, around Aug. 1, and continue until Halloween.

Belding, Mich.-based BelleHarvest Sales Inc. will kick off its season about 10 days ahead of last year with early varieties like paula reds and golden delicious, said Nick Teriaca, vice president of sales and marketing. Picking will start the first week of August, and shipping will get underway the following week.

“It was an extremely warm spring, and the trees woke up a little bit earlier this year,” Teriaca said.

BelleHarvest expects to have a slightly larger crop than last year on most of its 15 varieties, he said.

The harvest will start about 10 days earlier this year than last year at Belding, Mich.-based BelleHarvest Sales Inc., says Nick Teriaca, vice president of sales and marketing. “It was an extremely warm spring, and the trees woke up a little bit earlier this year,” he said.

(Photo courtesy of BelleHarvest Sales Inc.)

The harvest at North Bay Produce, Traverse City, Mich., started up to two weeks earlier than usual because of warm weather and more rain than normal, said Ken Korson, apple and asparagus category manager.

“The crop is looking good with good color and quality, but volume might be down slightly this year compared to 2023,” he said.

North Bay ships 18 varieties of apples with gala, Honeycrisp, red delicious, fuji and mcintosh, among the most popular. EverCrisp, the last variety to be picked, is an up-and-coming variety, Korson said.

The harvest usually continues into mid-October, but likely will finish around the first of the month because of the earlier start, he said.

Projected start date for this year’s apple harvest at Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., Sparta, Mich., is Aug 9, said Trish Taylor, marketing manager.

Volume should be about the same as last year, she said.

“We had a mild winter and an early spring that has led to harvest being about 10 days early,” Taylor said. “Summer had ample rain, and there were very isolated areas with hail, so all in all, the state crop is very clean.”

Quality looks good, and Riveridge will have a standard range of sizes on its Honeycrisp, gala, fuji and other varieties, she said. EverCrisp and ambrosia are gaining momentum, and younger plantings of higher-colored strains of Honeycrisp and gala are coming into production at Riveridge, she added.

North Bay Produce, Traverse City, Mich., ships 18 varieties of apples with gala, Honeycrisp, red delicious, fuji and McIntosh, among the most popular, says Ken Korson, apple and asparagus category manager. “The crop is looking good with good color and quality,” he says.

(Photo courtesy of North Bay Produce)

Inflation impact

Michigan apple growers continue their fight against inflation and rising costs.

“It’s been a challenging year, to say the least,” said Teriaca of BelleHarvest.

Fob prices are down but production is up, he said. “We’re packing more boxes, but they’re not worth as much.”

Apples remain a good value for consumers, said Korson of North Bay Produce.

Grower margins have come down, but the price of a bag of apples in the supermarket remains about the same, he said.

“We have to make them affordable enough to make people buy them year-round,” he said.

Consumers continue to buy apples because “they offer a great nutrient punch for the dollar,” added Taylor of Riveridge.

“We do see some trading down from more premium priced apples to the standby everyday value varieties,” she said.

Michigan apple business updates

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:09:13 GMT

BelleHarvest boosts capacity

Belding, Mich.-based BelleHarvest Sales Inc. added an apple cider line last year and is now putting in additional equipment to increase capacity, said Nick Teriaca, vice president of sales and marketing.

The company has added several flavors and blends, including salt-and-caramel and pumpkin spice flavors and a gala blend.

“We started it last year in a small way, but we’re really ramping up production this year and promoting it aggressively,” Teriaca said.

Flavors and variety blends are available in a half-gallon size, and blends come in gallons and half gallons.

Chazy, N.Y.-based Drape Net has developed a tight weave netting material that can protect apple and other kinds of trees from hail, birds and insect damage, says Dean Benson, who handles West Coast sales.

(Photo courtesy of Drape Net)

Drape Net system on the rise

Drape Net, the 18-year-old Australian company that makes tight-weave protective netting for apple trees and other fruit trees, is seeing an increase in sales of its “bullhorn” trellis system, said Jeff Whitehall, North American sales manager.

The bullhorn trellis system enables protective netting to be rolled up onto the trellis when the harvest is over in the fall and be easily deployed again with fruit set in the spring. Customers have reported labor savings of up to 30%, he said.

The netting can protect apple trees from codling moths, sunburn, wind, hail and birds, Whitehall said.

“The benefits to organic apple growers are huge,” he added.

Some organic apple growers may be experiencing 20% to 40% codling moth damage, he said. Drape Net can cut that figure to 1% or 1.5%.

The system can pay for itself by helping ensure a better packout, Whitehall said.

North Bay adds controlled storage

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce upgrades its packing sheds annually, adding new equipment and making operations more efficient, said Ken Korson, apple and asparagus category manager.

Most recently, the company installed controlled-atmosphere storage at five of its six packing sheds, enabling the company to store apples on site, Korson said.

The firm also upgraded packing lines at two sheds and continues to add high-density blocks of fruit to its orchards.

High-density orchards “produce a more consistent fruit for fresh production by enabling better sizing, color and a cleaner piece of fruit,” Korson said.

Sparta, Mich.-based Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc. has created pouch bags for its organic ambrosia, EverCrisp and gala apple varieties, says Trish Taylor, marketing manager.

(Photo courtesy of Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc.)

Riveridge has organic pouch bags

Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., Sparta, Mich., has created pouch bags for its organic ambrosia, EverCrisp and gala apple varieties, said Trish Taylor, marketing manager. Honeycrisp will be added next season. Each variety has a different color.

“We created the organic pouches with a theme that gives a nod to our 30 acres of wildflowers planted around some of our orchards,” she said. “These areas are safe havens to pollinators and beneficials and are full of native grasses and wildflowers.”

Plenty of apple varieties available in Michigan, marketers say

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:08 GMT

Apples buyers looking for variety options can find plenty of choices in Michigan this season, says Diane Smith, executive director of the Lansing-based Michigan Apple Committee .

“Michigan grows all the new and in-demand varieties consumers want, including managed varieties like Evercrisp, SweeTango, Kiku, Smitten and others,” she said.

“We focus our marketing efforts on tried-and-true consumer favorites — Honeycrisp , gala and fuji . We know retailers work hard to offer many varieties, and it’s our goal to assist them in implementing programs that show what Michigan has to offer.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, presents a potential challenge to “non-core” varieties, said Ken Korson, apple and asparagus category manager for Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce Inc .

“I think the issue this year with COVID, too, is a lot of retailers are cutting down on varieties, and they found with the peak of COVID in February and March that sales of apples went up but just with the main core varieties. So, it’s going to be a challenge at retail to keep the pipeline full, so as shippers, we’re going to have to get creative in pushing all the varieties. I think some will be more work, as far as getting them out there.”

North Bay’s main varieties are gala, Honeycrisp, mcintosh and golden delicious , which should be advantageous this year, Korson said.

“The older regional varieties will actually do fairly well because they’re core varieties in this region,” he said.

Overall, all varieties are likely to sell, Korson said.

“I actually think it’s gonna be a pretty good market this year,” he said. “I think some of the issue we’re gonna have is getting everything picked.”

Having varietal choices helps to build and maintain a solid customer base, said Chuck Yow, director of U.S. sales and business development with Comstock Park, Mich.-based Michigan Fresh Marketing LLC .

“You definitely have to be a broadline shipper (to) help with your distance of distribution and freight,” he said.

“We grow every variety we can to have that full basket. We will offer a paula red and ginger gold , which is an early variety.”

The company also has an early Honeycrisp, called a Premier, starting Aug. 22; SweeTango, Aug. 24; and Wildfire, around Aug. 26, Yow said.

Gala kicks off the company’s traditional varieties on Sept. 7, with mcintosh Sept. 19; Smitten, Sept. 20; Honeycrisp, Sept. 23; empire, Sept. 28; jonathan and jonagold, Sept. 30; and golden delicious, Oct. 2, Yow said.

Red delicious, fuji, idared, braeburn and topaz get underway in October and Evercrisp and Pink Lady, early November, Yow said.

Fruit sizing is a factor in a successful apple portfolio, too, said Don Armock, president of Sparta, Mich.-based Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc .

“The Riveridge grower community has been right sizing their varietal mix for more than a decade, and this has led to a concentration in core varieties that represent the majority of consumer demand,” Armock said.

“This is of utmost importance, and we have been working with new varieties as we have seen opportunities.”

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NY Apple Association website adds downloadable marketing tools

SpartanNash renews Double Up Food Bucks program

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:39:37 GMT

SpartanNash is renewing its Double Up Food Bucks program, with shoppers at 46 Family Fare, VG’s and ValuLand stores throughout Michigan giving food stamp recipients the opportunity to double fresh produce purchases.

SpartanNash, Grand Rapids, Mich., has offered the program since 2014, adding three stores this year, according to a news release.

Double Up Food Bucks is administered by the Fair Food Network, which allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants to receive a match up to $20 a day for fruit and vegetable purchases at stores in the program.

“At SpartanNash, we are committed to partnering with local growers and producers, as well as building stronger communities with programs like Double Up Food Bucks,” Tom Swanson, SpartanNash senior vice president and general manager of corporate retail, said in the release.

Double Up Food Bucks is available in more than 150 farmers markets, farm stands and other retail outlets, as well as more than 100 grocery stores, according to the release.

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Produce education opportunities plentiful at NGA Show

Farm bill increases funding for Double Up Food Bucks produce program