SPARTA MI — The vast majority of Michigan’s apple crop escaped a broad and violent storm on Aug. 2.

There was some very large size hail in the Traverse City area on Aug. 2, however this area is heavy to tart cherries and the harvest was nearly complete. “Apples are a relatively small part of the crops in the area and what losses occurred to the apple crop will be minor as this area had a small and frost-impacted crop to begin with and the volumes are low,” Don Armock, the president and a partner of Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., headquartered here, said Aug. 4.On July 28 at Jack Brown Produce Inc. the packing of the 2014 Michigan apple crop was drawing to an end, as these Rome apples were graded and packed. “There definitely is some tree damage as this storm was accompanied by high winds that broke off trees in areas and tipped over trees and trellis systems. There are some of the bigger hops growers in the state in this area as well and likely they felt some impact from this storm.”

Scott Swindeman, vice president of Applewood Orchards Inc., said Aug. 4 that the Michigan apple industry dodged a bullet in avoiding storm damage. He added that needed rain from the storm likely did more to increase apple volume than any losses caused by a tiny portion of the fruit being blown off trees.

Armock said he is ecstatic that Michigan has now enjoyed three straight strong apple crops after having three very difficult seasons in a short period. In 2012 multiple devastating freezes wiped out almost all of the state’s apples. In 2010 there was hail damage and a short crop. In 2007, Armock noted, every district in the state had hail damage.

Swindeman, in a July 27 meeting at his Deerfield, MI, orchard, said the 2015 Michigan apple crop is a bit smaller than last year’s harvest. “Overall, we have a nice crop,” he said. “Some areas had a challenge at pollinating time but for the most part, the crop is set well. We have had good growing conditions since bloom. We have had adequate moisture and in most cases a king bloom set. The sizing should be good.”

Armock indicated “our apple crop is similar to last year. But the variety mix has changed. This is good because the heavier varieties are those varieties that are move in demand.” Larger volumes this fall are in Galas, Fuji and Honeycrisp.

Similarly, Swindeman said the volume of Red Delicious is down but Fuji and Gala are up. “We have a nice Honeycrisp crop that is similar to last year. With all the young orchards of new Honeycrisp plantings taking place, we could have more than last year. The new bearing surface fools people who don’t give new bearing surface enough consideration” in making crop estimates.

At Jack Brown Produce Inc. in Sparta, MI, John Schaefer Jr., president, confirmed other views that Honeycrisp volume will be up this fall and “Red Delicious will be done a little. But it’s still the volume leader.” But Schaefer said that new Gala production is fast-coming. “Next year Gala may push out Red Delicious as being number one here.”

Swindeman indicated that the 2015 Michigan apple crop was two or three days ahead of 2014 maturation. “But all of that can change. We have not had a lot of 90 degree days, which is good.” If there is August heat, the apples would slow their growth. “In Washington there have been a lot of 100 degree-plus days. I am concerned for them and their normal sizing. We don’t need for them to be the same size profile as us in the Midwest and East.”

Deerfield, MI, the location of Applewood’s orchards, is in southeast Michigan, which is far from the fruit ridge north of Grand Rapids that produces much of the state’s apple crop. Because it’s warmer in Deerfield, “our size profile is larger than a lot of the state, so we do more tray packing than a lot of folks.”

Swindeman said the Honeycrisp harvest in Michigan is to begin around Sept. 12-15. The Gala harvest will commence about Aug. 30. Red and Golden Delicious harvest is expected to come on Sept. 29 and Fujis will be coming on the market Oct. 25.

Armock said Michigan’s first apple picking for the year will be of Paula Reds, about Aug. 15. This is normal timing. Armock foresees Honeycrisp and Galas coming onto the market in the second week of September.