It’s best to fill the copier paper tray before printing any bill proposed in the Michigan Senate.
One sheet will do, however, when printing Senate Bill 1003. It reads, “The cherry is designated as the official fruit of this state.”
“I love it,” said State Sen. John DaMoose (R-Harbor Springs), who authored the bill and found nine cosponsors from both sides of the aisle without breaking a sweat. “Usually we have big bills on these weighty issues. Of all the work I’ve done (as a House member and senator), this has drawn the most attention. Even Fox News called and wanted a comment — which is great. That means it has real traction. This can be nothing but good for our industry in the long term.”
Emily Miezio, the daughter of the cherry-growing Gregory family of Suttons Bay Township, is on board. She is chairperson of the Cherry Marketing Institute and treasurer of the Michigan Cherry Committee.
“I really think this will bring positivity into the industry after a tough crop year,” Miezio said. “We’re looking for some hopefulness. Sen. DaMoose and Rep. (Betsy) Coffia have been huge champions of the cherry industry. They both have been listening, attending, trying to help us.”
Miezio recalls a phone conversation with DaMoose when the senator was reaching out for input on the bill.
“He is very passionate about this. When I was on a Zoom call to him, his excitement was palpable … he is genuine,” Miezio said.
Leisa Eckerle Hankins, a fifth generation cherry farmer, knows first-hand the challenges facing growers in Leelanau County. She formed the Cherry Growers Alliance earlier this year to give growers a bigger voice in market decisions, improve pricing and in general shed light on the plight of growers after several years of scant or nonexistent profits.
She sees a statewide endorsement of cherries as Michigan’s official fruit as a major step in righting the industry.
“This is an opportunity for us to get out in front of the public with cherries, to talk about the industry and where we are. We are the cherry capital, growing 100 million pounds of (tart) cherries. This is a chance to showcase that to the state. It helps us in getting the word out.”
Years ago a similar effort fizzled out, but DaMoose believes his bill will clear the Senate and the House, then be signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
He expects State Rep. John Roth (R-Traverse City) to introduce a companion bill in the House.
The simple bill had roots in an effort headed by DaMoose and the National Cherry Festival to have May 22 declared “Cherry Industry Day.”
“We made a big deal out of that with the cherry festival people. We had the cherry queen come down, and she brought a piece of pie for every legislator. That’s the group (National Cherry Festival) I worked with to create this bill,” DaMoose said.
Presently the state has no official fruit, but other states do. For Georgia, it’s the peach. Oranges are featured in Florida, apples in Washington. Michigan’s official flower is the apple blossom.
One reason DaMoose feels the cherry will succeed in representing Michigan was the ease in which he found cosponsors simply by walking the Senate floor.
“I went up to Sen. (John) Cherry, who represents Flint, and he burst out laughing and put his signature on it. Sen. Mallery McMorrow out of Royal Oak came running up and signed with a big smile on his face … one of the best ones is Sen. Sam Singh because he is the majority floor leader. He has a real say in what bills come up to the floor,” DaMoose said.
While picking a state fruit may not be considered heavy lifting in Lansing, DaMoose is hoping the process leads to real benefit for the cherry industry.
“I specifically am concerned most about the cherry growers. My interest in particular came about last year when driving down (U.S.) 31 and seeing a farmer cut down all his cherry trees … right now (growers) are losing money on every cherry they sell. I don’t want to see our beautiful orchards go away. Cherries have been the bedrock for our agriculture. Will this lead to legislation to help the cherry industry?
“I hope it does.”
