‘Great crop, good variety’: Apples ripen early in Michigan

ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan apple orchards are seeing an earlier harvest this year after warm spring temperatures spurred development.

“This year we have a great crop in Michigan with really good quality. We’re about 10 to 14 days ahead of normal on most varieties,” grower Nick Schweitzer said.

Schweitzer Orchard near Sparta has started harvesting two varieties. It is not just the color of the apples that lets farmers know when they are ready. Orchards collect a sample and spray them with an iodine solution.

“It will show you the differences between the starches and sugar within the fruit. The starches will start to clear the riper the fruit is,” Schweitzer explained.

Workers were also harvesting pears on Monday. That crop is early, too.

“Between strawberries, cherries, peaches, they were earlier, we’re earlier. We’re following the same pattern because of the early warm up this spring,” Schweitzer said.

Farmers are grateful for a good crop but were nervous when temperatures warmed early this year.

“I don’t remember a time at least being a major part of the farm where we were this far advanced and had this early of a spring,” Schweitzer said.

He said he feels fortunate frost did not destroy his crop.

“We had our first bud break where the first tissue leaves the buds —around March 7, which was actually about 10 days earlier than 2012, when we lost our entire crop, so it was quite concerning this spring,” Schweitzer said. “Luckily we had a three-week period where temperatures kind of moderated and got colder again and basically shut down the development.”

Prices are expected to be similar to last year, but if you are a fan of the fruit, there are some perks to this earlier harvest.

“Whether it’s Robinette’s, Schwallier’s, any of your favorite places, get out and you can enjoy them a lot earlier. just like your peaches and cherries this year,” Schweitzer said.

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