When I visited Traverse City as a kid, we visited the National Cherry Festival and I vividly remember standing in the longest line possible...to spit a cherry pit as far as I possible. To the shock of no one, it was the most pathetic Pit Spit known to man, but it solidified with the connection of cherries and Michigan in my head.

Many of us enjoyed the warmer winter & spring, but not farmers around the state. They were in crisis mode after the unusual conditions resulted in catastrophic losses for the cherry industry, leading to 75% of the harvest being lost. Now, the USDA has stepped in to try to help these struggling farmers.

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Getty Images
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Bad Harvest

The "Cherry Capital of the World" had one of the worst harvests ever due to "significant insect and disease damage" leading Governor Whitmer to request help from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA is responding by issuing Disaster Declarations from the major cherry-producing regions around the state like Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Antrim.

Photo by Mohammad Amin Masoudi on Unsplash
Photo by Mohammad Amin Masoudi on Unsplash
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What This Means For Farmers

Considering the major revenue losses the farmers had from so many lost crops, this declaration is a huge lifeline for many of the cherry farmers. The disaster declaration will give emergency low-interest loans that are meant to help cover the losses and give farmers a cushion until next season.

It also indicates just how essential the "Cherry Capital of the World" is to the overall market that, without Michigan cherries, the cherry market really is in a doozy. Farmers have eight months to apply for the loans and determine how much support they need based on their losses.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
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A Sign For Worse Things To Come?

While it's great the USDA stepped in this year to help the struggling farmers, this is only one summer in a growing pattern of bad cherry harvests. Things like climate change and foreign imports have made it especially difficult for farmers to keep up. This winter is on track to be more traditional for Michigan, so farmers will just have to hope next year will be better.

Eau Claire, Michigan - Vintage Photos and Cherry Spitting

The Best You-Pick Cherry Farms Across Michigan

Now that Michigan's really getting into summer, it's the perfect season for cherry picking.
Whether you want to stay around town in the mid-Michigan area, or perhaps make a day of it and travel someplace new and check out the Michigan town that's literally famous for its cherry festival; Traverse City, there are plenty of great you-pick cherry places across the state. Check out where you can pick your own cherries across Michigan.

Gallery Credit: Kristen Matthews

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