By Andi Anderson
Michigan orchards are leaving more apples on trees this year due to economic and labor challenges. The strong supply of apples coupled with higher labor costs has made it more financially feasible to leave some of the fruit unharvested.
One orchard, Schweitzer Orchards, has left rows of apples on its trees. Operations Manager Nick Schweitzer said that the orchard tries to harvest as much as possible, but some apples are too small or of poor quality to be marketable. Additionally, the cold weather has made it difficult to harvest apples for fresh consumption.
Another orchard, Joe Rasch Orchards, has also left a portion of its crop unharvested. Katie Vargas, a board member with USApple, said that the biggest factor in this decision is the rising cost of labor. The wage for apple pickers has increased by about 40% over the past five years.
Despite the challenges, the apples left on the trees will not go to waste. The fruit will eventually decay and return nutrients to the soil.
Michigan is the third-largest apple-producing state in the United States, producing over 900 million pounds of apples each year.
Photo Credit: istock-rixipix
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables