Michigan Apple Crop (erratic growing season 2010)

bylined article by Alex Kohut (Bay City Times):  posted at MI Live dot-com

Mid-Michigan apple orchards opened to the public this week, but came bearing less fruit than usual because of erratic weather this year.  Doris Witzgall, co-owner of Witzgall Apple Orchard, 5179 S. Two Mile Road in Monitor Township, said warm weather in March caused the apple trees to bloom early, but a May frost wiped out 90 percent of the orchard’s crop.
“Until then, we were probably looking at a record crop for us. We were really loaded,” she said.
A good crop for the orchard, Witzgall said, is anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 bushels. One bushel usually consists of about 80 apples.
With the spring frost, Witzgall said the orchard’s apple output was slashed to about 500 bushels.
The apple shortage likely will mean a shorter season for the orchard, she said.
“I would consider it a success if we made it through mid-October,” Witzgall said.  The lower supply of apples also will mean fewer apple cider pressings.
Witzgall said the orchard only has enough apples to do one more pressing this season.  During previous years, she said it was common to do pressings twice a week throughout the season.
The frost hit some types of apples harder than others at Leaman’s Green Applebarn in Thomas Township, said co-owner Jaye Reisinger.
“You look at one tree and see that it’s loaded, but the one next to it is empty. Red Delicious apples were hit the hardest,” Reisinger said.  Though the orchard will stay open until its usual Christmas Eve closing date, she said calling upon other apple growers for more apples remains a possibility.
“Depending on the demand, that may be the only way we can keep pressing cider as the season goes on,” Reisinger said.  Tim Slachta, owner of the Tiny Apple Store at 2285 E. Salzburg Road in Monitor Township, said the frost changed the quantity of fresh apples his shop will offer for sale.
“We’re holding back close to 100 percent of our apples to use for our caramel apples and pies,” Slachta said.  Slachta said using the apples to make other products will help prevent the shop from depleting its supply. Doing so will also allow the shop to fulfill its scheduled season through Nov. 28.
Even with shortened supplies, many apple orchard growers said they remain optimistic about the season.“Our apple count may be down this year, but the ones we have are very nice,” Reisinger said.