Michigan Inventory Show Mixed Fruit Results

By CnAgri2012-10-25 19:54:42 Print

Results from the 2011 Michigan Fruit Acreage Inventory have been compiled for pears, plums, and nectarines. "There were 170 pear, 150 plum, and 65 nectarine farms at the end of the 2011 season", according to Jay Johnson, Director of the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office.

Pear trees covered 730 acres at the conclusion of 2011, down 70 acres since 2006. There were only 10 acres of pears planted from 2007 to 2011. Oceana, Mason, and Van Buren Counties had over half of the pear acreage. Bartletts accounted for 83 percent of all land in pears.

There were 600 acres of plums at the end of 2011, down 150 acres from five years earlier. There were 70 acres of plums planted from 2007 through 2011. Leelanau, Van Buren, and Oceana Counties accounted for 47 percent of the plum acreage. Stanleys accounted for 52 percent of all land in plums.

There were 80 acres of nectarines on 65 farms at the end of 2011. From 2007 through 2011, 18 acres were planted. Fantasia was the most common variety, accounting for 41 percent of acres.

All tables on pears, plums, and nectarines are available through the NASS home page at www.nass.usda.gov. Select Michigan under Statistics by State to access the Michigan internet page. In the list of Michigan Publications, choose Michigan Rotational Surveys to find the Fruit Inventory 2011-2012 information.