The cherry is queen of crops grown in Leelanau County. Why not give it an official title for all of Michigan?
A bill was introduced last week by state Sen. John Damoose proclaiming in simple terms that the cherry be named the official state fruit. It’s a title left unfilled by oversight rather than worthiness. Michigan grows more tart cherries than any other state; Leelanau harvests more cherries than any other county in the nation.
And besides, what’s not to love about cherries — that is, unless you’ve relied on them for a living the last few years. It’s no secret that cherry farmers have been beset by setbacks, from unfair competition on a global scale to invasive insect invaders to frosty April and May mornings that can wipe out a crop before flowers bloom.
