Nature's cooperated, but will high gas prices help or hurt the region's U-pick farms?

Michelle Whaley got out early on Wednesday to catch the tail end of this year’s strawberry season and the start of raspberry picking at Lehman’s Orchard in Niles.

A biology professor at the University of Notre Dame, Whaley brought along one of her students — Yerania Serrato — a rising sophomore who was happy for the opportunity to spend part of day in the country picking fruit rather than in the lab.

“I’ve been coming here for years,” Whaley explained, adding that Lehman’s is one of her stops on a summerlong journey visiting Lehman’s and other U-pick farms throughout the region. Next on her list will be blueberries, followed by apples later in the season.

On Wednesday, the two women planned to pick four quarts of strawberries and another four quarts of raspberries. Some will be frozen for smoothies and some will be used for desserts, Whaley explained, adding that gardening and picking fruit are some of her favorite summertime activities.

The same can likely be said for the many thousands of visitors who are drawn to the region's farms each year where they can find a wide variety of fruits and vegetables offered for picking or in farm markets and roadside stands.

And this year’s crop generally won’t disappoint.

Frost damage sporadic

Although sweet and tart cherries were vulnerable to the April cold snaps that hit the region, the damage was somewhat sporadic in terms of which orchards were affected and whether they were able to mitigate damage by spraying the trees with water or some other mix that could provide a thin protective covering of ice.

Steve Lecklider, manager of Lehman’s, said he was surprised by one of the temperature dips, so there was a bit of damage to the buds on some of his cherry and plum trees. But even still, everything else “looks average to better than average,” he added.

Depending on the location of your favorite orchard, it’s likely that sweet and tart cherries are now being picked. Strawberry picking is nearing completion for this year, but some other early berries — raspberries, gooseberries, for example — are becoming available at Lehman’s for those who want to pick their own fresh fruit.

Those looking to pick cherries should check the website or Facebook page of their favorite U-pick operators before heading out, suggested Mike Reinke, a Michigan State University extension educator.

Most of the damage to this year’s cherry crop occurred in the southwestern portion of the state because those trees were a little further along than orchards in northern Michigan during a couple of late March and April cold snaps when the developing blossoms were vulnerable, he said.

Fruit report: Latest update from MSU extension

But even in the southwestern corner of the state, there are orchards that were less impacted because of their proximity to the moderating influence of Lake Michigan or because they sit on higher ground, he said, pointing out that colder air ends up settling in valleys.

“There are blocks (areas) that lost 50% of their cherries and others that are in good shape,” Reinke said.

Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs is one of the U-pick operations that escaped any serious harm from the April cold snaps. “Being on a ridge provides some protection,” said Jeff Lemon, who owns the winery and U-pick operation along with his brother Tim.

Except for the spotty damage to some cherry crops and plums, most other fruits look to be in pretty good shape for the U-pick season, though some places are already being forced to irrigate to make up for the lack of rainfall as well as the high heat the past couple of weeks.

“There will be plenty of fruit for local farm markets,” said Bill Shane, a tree fruit specialist for MSU’s extension center. “Harvest dates are a few days behind last year, but still ahead of the long-term average.”

Lehman’s, Lemon Creek and most other fruit farms also offer prepicked produce in farm markets for those who don’t want to venture into the fields. Blueberry Ranch, which anticipates the start of its U-pick season after July 4 and announced its 2022 crop is looking very good, also offers prepicked and frozen blueberries for its customers.

Other than the spotty damage to cherries, other fruits look to be in good shape for the season, Reinke said. Peaches, which were hard hit by the polar vortex a few years ago, should be strong this season.

And that’s especially important to orchard owners because fresh peaches have the ability to draw in visitors from well outside the region, usually ensuring a strong U-pick season, Reinke said.

Higher costs for everyone

The only question now is whether high fuel prices will dissuade visitors from making trips to visit the many U-pick and farm stands throughout the region.

More: Indiana gas tax to see new record with 5-cent increase.

Farmers already are paying double and triple last year’s price for fuel, fertilizer and other items needed to produce crops, but they’re not able to simply double and triple their prices without risk of losing customers, Reinke said.

"Even with good crops across the board, few are talking about a profit,” he said of the U-pick operators.

Though no one expects another banner year like 2020 when people flocked to U-picks for recreation during the pandemic, operators are still hoping high gas prices might keep people a little closer to home this summer.

“If people are cancelling longer trips, maybe they’ll take more short trips,” Reinke said. And with grocery aisles running short on items because of supply issues, people also might be looking for ways to stock up on fresh, locally grown fruits and produce, he added.

That’s what Reinke is hoping for the farmers he works with every day.

“I don’t think it will be like 2020, but it has the potential to be a good year if people go for local travel because of high gas prices,” he said. “That support is needed more than ever with the high costs that farmers are facing.”

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Orchards are open, could Indiana gas prices threaten U-pick season?