Michigan farmers cultivate a plentiful array of fruits and vegetables, with the summer season marking a significant uptick in harvest. June ushers in favorites such as strawberries, asparagus and peas. By July, cherries and blueberries are abundant, accompanied by popular vegetables like carrots and celery and a month later, the state is flush with raspberries, apples, cabbage and cucumbers.
The Michigan Vegetable Council reports that approximately 165,000 acres of vegetables are grown throughout the state. Farms vary in size, with most medium and larger farms being generational. Newer farmers typically operate smaller farms, though some are involved in large-scale farming and are very active and robust in their operations.
Jimmy Myrick, vice president of Edward L. Myrick Produce calls Michigan a unique agricultural area because farmers can grow so many different items.
“We deal mostly with vegetables, but in the same area farmers grow blueberries, peaches, asparagus and apples. There are so many items. There are all different kinds of soils throughout the state of Michigan so they can grow cabbage and corn and celery. From heavier dirt to sandier dirt, Michigan is just very diverse. You can do just about anything here.”
In fact, Michigan ranks in the top four states for asparagus, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, green beans, pumpkins, radishes, summer and winter squash, sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes and turnips.
Additionally, Michigan is the largest producing state of cucumbers for pickling and potatoes for chipping. The state also ranks first in the nation in the production of asparagus for processing and summer and winter squash for processing — and don’t count Michigan out on blueberries.
Michigan’s blueberry growers produce more than 100 million pounds of highbush blueberries, with about 30 different varieties, grown, harvested, packed and processed by 575 family farms annually, contributing nearly $132 million to the state’s economy.
The USDA’s most recent report on Michigan agriculture revealed the farm value of Michigan field crops produced in 2023 was $4.1 billion, down 15 percent from 2022. The lower prices for both corn and soybeans resulted in lower production.
Still, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development reveal that the state’s agriculture contributes nearly $105.7 billion annually to the state’s economy, second only to California.
Things are expected to turn around a bit in 2024, with most in the industry believing things are looking strong for 2024.
One challenge is the H2-A wage rate, where the state experienced the highest increased in the country last year, rising 12.8 percent. This has caused many labor issues on the farms, and forced some to rely more on automation.
Michigan is also home to the Detroit Produce Terminal and the Eastern Market, which has dozens of produce companies doing business and supplying produce 24/7 to retailers, food service and consumers.