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Above, Jordan McNulty of Armada reaches for a tasty-looking apple at Miller's Big Red Orchard. This year's apple crop is said to be one of the best in recent history. Below, Chad Woodruff and his son, Ian, of Warren team up to reach the bigger apples hanging from a tree in Miller's Big Red Orchard. This was the first time the family has visited the orchard.

(Observer photos by Chris Gray)

Michigan apples: 2009
crop plentiful and tasty

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Thousands of residents are flocking to northern Macomb County orchards to get their hands on the Great Lake state's largest and most valuable fruit crop.
       As the weather becomes chilly for the fall, a staple for Michigan residents is a trip to the orchard to pick apples and enjoy some cider and donuts, whether it's a family tradition, a school trip or a fun date for couples.

Thankfully, there will be plenty of apples to go around this year as the state harvests one of its best crop in 10 years.
       According to the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC), the typical harvested amount is 20 million bushels (or 800 million pounds) of apples. This year is estimated at 26 million bushels.
       "We had a good crop this year, we're above yield this year for sure," said Tom Bowerman, owner of Tom Bowerman's Orchard.
       Michigan is the third largest provider of apples in the nation, following Washington and New York. Michigan apple growers contribute about $450 million a year to the state's economy, with more than 7.5 million trees in commercial production throughout the lower peninsula.
       The MAC reports roughly 60 percent of Michigan's apples are processed into other products, and is the largest supplier of apple slices used in commercial apple pies.
       Bob Tritten, district extension fruit educator with the Michigan State University Extension Center, said the state's apples are unique due to the time in which they're grown, making them tastier than others grown in the country.
       "In the fall, we have nice, warm days and cool nights, and that combination of warm and cool brings the flavor out in an apple," he said. "We irrigate and water when we have dry weather, not like Washington where they may grow four to five time more, but they are grown in a desert area, and have to water them to keep them alive."
       He called this year's crop "terrific" compared to the previous years, both in quantity and quality.
       "We had a mild winter, which is good for apples, and no frost or spring freezes," he said. "And the cider is tasting wonderful because we finally have enough varieties that it'll be really good."
       To make tasty cider, orchards and cider mills use a blend of various types of apples, not just one or two. Each mill also has its own secret blend of apples, making each product unique from the other.
       Like their cider, the type of apples offered at local orchards range between 12 to 20 different varieties throughout the season, most of which can be hand-picked by customers.
       "I think people want more of a variety because they enjoy food more than they used to; it's more of an experience now than just a necessity," said Westview Orchards co-owner Abby Jacobson.
       Other orchards, such as Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill, say the weather plays a big factor in both the apple crop as well as the crowds. Cold weather, like the frost experienced the night of Sept. 30, actually helps by increasing the sugar content in the crops.
       "We've experienced a pretty good u-pick, though it might be a little off last year due to the weather," said co-owner Paul Blake.
       Regardless, he said there has been a great response, and expects plenty of crowds until the end of October.
       "Our apple crop is one of the best we've grown in 20 years," he said. "The quality is good, the quanity and the sizes are good."
       Fans of the Honeycrisp variety will be happy to know that the popular, sweet apple is available at all local orchards. Due to demand, though, most of them do not offer it as a u-pick option.
       "Our crop was about equal, if not a little bit better," said Samantha Velick of Miller's Big Red Orchard. "We only had two days out of the year where we let the Honeycrisps be picked."
       Even with an increased crop, the Michigan Honeycrisp supply is only expected to last until the end of the year.
       "Running out of this variety has been the one and only complaint we've heard about the Honeycrisp," said Denise Donohue, executive director of the MAC.