This year, Michigan growers are bracing for one of the worst tart cherry harvests in memory. Once a robust industry producing over 100 million pounds annually, the state is now projected to yield just 30 million pounds-a staggering 70% drop.

The causes are multifaceted. Unpredictable spring weather, including late frosts and heavy rains, have disrupted flowering and fruit development. At the same time, soaring land prices, a growing farm labor crisis, and international trade barriers have made tart cherry farming increasingly unsustainable.

"We're seeing bloom patterns we've never seen before," said one grower. "The weather just doesn't play by the old rules anymore."

Beyond the orchard rows, the crisis is hitting Michigan's cultural and economic life. The famed National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, which draws over half a million visitors, has been forced to import cherries this year to meet demand-an unheard-of measure in the industry's heartland.

A Warning for U.S. Specialty Crops

Michigan's cherry collapse offers a stark warning for fruit growers across the country. As climate volatility intensifies and reliable labor becomes scarcer, the stability of specialty crop systems-from berries to apples to stone fruit-hangs in the balance.

Industry leaders are calling for urgent reform, including modernized ag labor programs, improved crop insurance models, and climate adaptation policies within the next farm bill.

For now, cherry farmers are trying to salvage what remains of the 2025 season. But for many, the long-term question looms: Can the state that built its legacy on cherries continue to grow them?