HORTICULTURE HORTICULTURESouthwest Michigan Fruit Plantings
Southwest Michigan is a major growing region of Michigan. Southwest Michigan has 941 fruit farms covering 44,400 acres. In 1995, the figures were almost 1200 fruit farms farming over 51,000 acres. This region comprises a third of Michigan's fruit farms and fruit acreage. The major crops are apples, grapes and blueberries. There is little overlap between growers. Tree fruits and grapes are found on the tops of the region's rolling hills. Most tree fruit growers grow a mix of fruit varieties, spreading out the harvest season from July thought October. Grape growers normally grow only grapes (harvested in the fall) and maybe cherries (harvested in July). Blueberry growers usually only grow blueberries which require moist soils with a low soil pH. Blueberries are usually found in the low laying areas. Southwest Michigan is one of the foremost blueberry production regions in the world.
Southwest Michigan's fruit is used for both fresh and processed markets. Numerous roadside stands can be found though out the region selling fruits and vegetables. Packing plants pack fresh fruit for shipment to markets in the U.S., Europe and South America. Processing plants in Berrien, Allegan and Van Buren counties process apples into juice, apple slices and apple sauce. These processing plants also process cherries, plums, and other fruit as well as vegetables like asparagus. Almost all the grapes grown in Southwest Michigan are juice grapes grown for Welch's which has a processing plant in Van Buren County. Most of the grapes are grown in Berrien and Van Buren counties. The two main varieties are the juice grapes 'Concord' and 'Niagara'. There are numerous varieties grown for wine and several wineries are located in the region.
Southwest Michigan also produces half of the state's peaches. All of these are sold on the fresh market. Tart cherries are almost all packed for pie filling or other uses, while the sweet cherry crop is sold locally as fresh fruit. Plums and pears make up small acreages that are sold both to the fresh market locally and processed into baby food and other preserves. There are also numerous strawberry fields which are sold locally and on the roadside.
2004 Southwest Michigan Fruit Farms, Planted Acreage and percent of total Michigan fruit farms and plantings |
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| Crop | Farms & Percentage |
Acres & Percentage |
||
| All Fruit | 886 |
39% | 42,710 |
32% |
| Apples | 270 | 27% | 10,200 | 24% |
| Grapes | 358 | 77% | 13,450 | 93% |
| Blueberries | 321 | 58% | 11,550 | 62% |
| Tart Cherry | 127 | 21% | 3,640 | 11% |
| Peaches | 191 | 41% | 2,450 | 43% |
| Plums | 66 | 37% | 310 | 34% |
| Pears | 56 | 30% | 235 |
26% |
| Sweet Cherry | 93 | 18% | 270 | 3% |
| Brambles | 53 | 28% | 210 |
38% |
| Strawberries | 35 | 19% | 260 | 25% |
| Nectarines | 40 | 65% | 75 | 75% |
| Cranberries | 5 | 42% | 60 | 23% |
| The figures are from the 2003 Michigan Fruit Survey | ||||
2000 Southwest Michigan Fruit Farms, Planted Acreage and percent of total Michigan fruit farms and plantings |
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| Crop | Farms & Percentage |
Acres & Percentage |
||
| All Fruit | 941 |
40 % |
44,415 |
35 % |
| Apples | 305 |
28 % |
12,700 |
27 % |
| Grapes | 376 |
84 % |
12,800 |
95 % |
| Blueberries | 336 |
58 % |
10,900 |
60 % |
| Tart Cherry | 250 |
20 % |
3,940 |
13 % |
| Peaches | 207 |
45 % |
2,730 |
48 % |
| Plums | 77 |
43 % |
390 |
39 % |
| Pears | 56 |
31 % |
230 |
27 % |
| Sweet Cherry | 82 |
16 % |
230 |
3 % |
| Brambles | 50 |
32 % |
170 |
37 % |
| Strawberries | 37 |
18 % |
170 |
16 % |
| Nectarines | 41 |
71 % |
90 |
82 % |
| Cranberries | 7 |
60 % |
65 | 26 % |
| The figures are from the 2001 Michigan Fruit Survey | ||||
