In an Aug. 2 letter from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsacik, she pleaded for relief as “Michigan is experiencing a natural disaster for sweet cherry production.”
Leelanau Farmer Emily Miezio; Michigan Department of Agriculture and rural Development (MDARD) Director, Dr. Tim Boring; State Representative Betsy Coffia; and Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center Director Nikki Rothwell spoke at a press conference Thursday in Traverse City regarding the letter sent by Whitmer.
A federal disaster declaration is what Michigan representatives are hoping to receive for cherry farmers that could help with access to low interest loans and qualify growers for ad-hoc programs that are meant for disasters.
