BENTON HARBOR, MI — “We increase our Gala production every year,” said Barry Winkel, general manager and a partner in the family firm Greg Orchards & Produce Inc., located here. While Greg Orchards primarily ships Red and Golden Delicious apples, the Galas are coming on strong. He noted that Rome and Winesap shipments for Greg Orchards decline each year.

Winkel said the Red Delicious is “a great shipping apple” and is very sweet. Furthermore, “it’s pretty and you can store it for a long time. You can export it and it arrives hard. Other varieties, if you don’t keep them cold they’ll get mealy pretty quick.”

Barry Winkel, general manager and a partner in the family firm Greg Orchards & Produce Inc., stands in his office in Benton Harbor, MI. Lake Michigan lighthouse photographs fill his walls, but he said the produce business doesn't allow the time in the summer to enjoy the huge lake, which is a few miles away.Greg Orchards’ salesperson Marilyn Redder noted that the firm is handling increasing numbers of Honeycrisp. “You constantly have to upgrade what you’re doing. In the fruit business we do that, and promote it.” She noted that some apple varieties don’t necessarily need a new name. Paula Red, for example, could have been called an early McIntosh. But, she added, the Honeycrisp is so unique “that it deserves its own name.”

She credited the modern apple industry with breeding and planting for flavor, when the previous objective was to produce apples that looked good.

In addition to growing and handling many other types of produce items, Greg Orchards produces 850 acres of its own apples. Rodney Winkel is in charge of production, while his brother Barry Winkel works on the marketing side.

The company has a 450,000-bushel cold storage facility.

For Greg Orchards, peach shipping was to commence around July 20. Blueberry shipping was under way. Small-volume apple varieties such as Lodi were already being picked. Apricots were to start picking in early August. Nectarines were to come from the Benton Harbor area in mid-August and a few pears and grapes are expected in early September.

“Berrien County ships more items than any county in the U.S. We have berries, vegetables and fruit.” Lake Michigan’s waters have “a big effect” by moderating temperatures throughout the year.

“It’s cooler in the spring so the blooms don’t come as early,” reducing the chance of spring frost damage. He noted, “That much water is hard to warm up fast.” At the same time, warm water in the fall helps farmers avoid “early fluke freezes.”

Michigan’s diverse crops attract farm laborers, who can move from one commodity to the next without changing housing, noted Winkel.