Cherry growers in Leelanau County are still tightening their belts after a poor 2024 harvest, with even multigenerational farmers struggling to make ends meet.
Gary Fredrickson, a Leelanau Township fruit grower, said the family farm has been around for over 125 years. But for a variety of reasons — including several poor growing seasons, fruit industry changes, and federal actions — Fredrickson thinks they are at their lowest ebb.
For Fredrickson, a big source of anxiety for the coming season are the new administration’s executive orders calling for an immigration crackdown. Fredrickson said that employing foreign labor is costly, but often necessary, because many U.S. citizens don’t want to help with harvests themselves.
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