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A good argument for #Polyculture instead of #monoculture! Of course, it takes time to establish, and doesn't happen overnight.
#Climate takes its toll on the ‘#cherry capital of the world’
The erratic weather adding to the troubles of Michigan's cherry growers is impacting #farmers everywhere.
Ayurella Horn-Muller & Izzy Ross
December 17, 2024
"Everyone who works the land knows they’re at the mercy of the weather, but even by that measure this was a challenging year for Michigan’s cherry farmers. Growers throughout the state, which produces one-fifth of the nation’s sweet cherries and about 75 percent of its tart cherries, have struggled with mounting losses. By the time the season came to a close over the summer, as much as 75 percent of the state’s sweet cherry crop was lost. Although tart cherry production for northwest Michigan was up almost 40 percent over last year, the quality of the fruit declined.
"Many growers are adapting to the difficult market and changing climate, planting different varieties or embracing high-density orchards with trees packed more closely together, an approach that makes them easier to harvest while lowering costs and improving quality. For Isaiah Wunsch, CEO of the farm that bears his name, the key to survival is 'not putting all of our eggs into one basket.'"