MSU shares that Michigan has over 1500 commercial farms growing peppers, which are packed with Vitamins A & C! Head over to MSU Extension for tips on storing & cooking peppers and down to your local farm market to buy them!
See more in Joel’s 366 gallery of mostly monochrome shots.
via Leelanau.com… The Leelanau Ticker shares the sad saga of one of the worst growing seasons for Northern Michigan sweet cherries in recent memory:
In a summary, it was a disaster,” says Philip Hallstedt, who owns the Northport U-pick cherry farm Hallstedt Homestead Cherries. “For sweet cherries, rain, wind whip, and humidity set the stage for high infestation of European brown rot and spotted wing drosophila. A fellow farmer shared that 90 percent of his sweet cherry harvest was lost – which is tough, as sweet cherries are the cash crop for many growers to sustain their operations, given that tart prices are so low.”
Brown rot is a fungal infection that attacks flowering cherry trees and hampers their ability to produce fruit. The disease thrives off high moisture levels and spreads in windy conditions, making this year’s humid, rainy, breezy spring a perfect storm for mass cherry crop impact. Meanwhile, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive fruit fly species native to Asia but first identified in Michigan in the fall of 2010. Since then, the pest has become arguably the top concern for Michigan cherry growers, according to Michigan State University Extension. SWD attack ripening fruit and lay eggs inside, not only compromising cherry quality but also triggering further proliferation and infestation. Per MSU, a single SWD female “is capable of laying 300+ eggs,” which can then develop into adults “in as little as eight days.”
To add insult to injury, the 2024 cherry season actually started off promisingly. According to Hallstedt, cherry farmers typically experience what is known as “June drop,” where a cherry tree “senses its crop load” and then sheds unpollinated or damaged cherries as an act of selecting which cherries have the best chance at reaching maturity. This year, June drop was atypically small, which cleared the way for what might have become one of the biggest sweet cherry crops in recent memory.
More in the Ticker.
Mark took the photo a month ago. Head over to Downstreamer on Flickr for his latest!
The Deck in Muskegon by The Deck
NOTE: I thought that Adrian Soto of Social GR had taken these photos, but they were taken by the restaurant. Still very cool!
Adrian Soto of Social GR was at The Deck in Muskegon the other day and shared their photos, writing “🌴 Another great restaurant that makes you forget you’re in Michigan and feel like you’re somewhere in the Caribbean is The Deck in Muskegon! 🌺🍹 With its vibrant atmosphere, dishes, and refreshing drinks, it’s the perfect spot to transport yourself to paradise. 🌞✨“
A big thanks to Felicia Rivera for finding these photos & for sure check out Adrian’s adventures in food & fun on his Facebook or at Social GR.
What’s YOUR favorite waterfront hangout in Michigan?? I’ve always been a huge fan of the view from The Cove & Rick’s Cafe in Leland’s Fishtown, but I’d love to hear about your favorite place!!
Strawberry Season at Bardenhagen Berries Farm
Bardenhagen Berries Farm of Lake Leelanau, Michigan reports:
We checked to see if the berries were ready to pick and it turns out they ARE!! We’ll have strawberries at our farmstand at 7990 E Horn Road, Lake Leelanau today until they sell out. The photos show the first flat of the day picked, as well as the first customers to receive this year’s berries!
If you’re in the area, you can pre-order berries or weekly CSA through their website.
Have you had any fresh Michigan strawberries yet?? Where’s your favorite place to pick them up?? Share in the comments or on the post on the Michpics Facebook!
Sweet Cherries in Bloom by Bardenhagen Berries Farm
The Bardenhagen Berries Farm shares: The sweet cherries 🍒 are in full bloom & it’s a beautiful 🤩 sight all around! What a beautiful day! Strawberries 🍓 usually start blooming around a week or so after cherries. All things considered, this past winter was reported as the warmest on record- and there is a very good chance many fruit crops (assuming they don’t get frosted out) will be a week or more earlier than usual. Follow along right here for updates on the 2024 growing season!
Click to see more photos & visit their website at bardenhagenberries.com!
As you can see from the photo above, the 2024 Michigan Morel Season is now underway! Every year I try & kick off Michigan morel season by sharing some tips so here goes:
My friend Rick lives in Southwest Michigan and shared this last week. If you’re a fan of cannabis & golf, check out the Cannabis Golfers Association which is getting ready to host the Hazy Holes Classic!
Mushrooms on Pine View Golf Course by Corey Seeman
My Michigan morel mushroom groups are starting to light up with mushroom finds so it’s a good time to remind folks that May is morel month in Michigan!
The actual fruiting period can be anywhere from late April until mid-June depending on where you are in the Mitten & what species you are hunting. Contrary to common belief, morels are not confined to the northern part of the state – some of the best picking (such as the photo today) can be found in southern Michigan.
MOREL HUNTING TIPS
Corey took this on May 4th in Ypsilanti last year. Head over to his Flickr for his latest!
Kresge Library Services Paczki Day Extravaganza by Corey Seeman
A Healthier Michigan has a nice look at the history of Paczki Day in Michigan:
The making and indulging in paczki (pronounced “poonch-key”) dates back to the Middle Ages. During that time, people in Poland would make pastries to use up all of their lard, sugar, eggs and other decadent ingredients before beginning Lent (a period of 40 days where Christians cut out certain foods like sweets or dairy and avoid eating meat on Fridays). Back then, the rich pastries were filled with pork fat. The more modern versions are a lot sweeter, often filled with fruit jelly (commonly raspberry, apple or lemon) or custard and dusted in powdered sugar.
When Polish immigrants came to the United States—especially Midwestern cities like Detroit, Chicago, Green Bay and Cleveland—at the beginning of the 20th century, Paczki Day came with them. And it’s been celebrated here on Fat Tuesday ever since.
FYI, paczkis often clock in at over 1000 calories & 30 grams of fat so no, they are definitely not the best of health foods but a perfect Fat Tuesday treat!!
Corey took a picture of this nice assortment of Paczkis from Benny’s Bakery in Saline back in 2020 at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business library. Head over to Flickr for his latest which includes pics of Runyon, an adorable pup.
“I love Thanksgiving because it’s a holiday that is centered around food and family, two things that are of utmost importance to me.”
—Marcus Samuelsson
Can’t agree more with Chef Samuelsson!
I’ve featured this photo from PepOMint before on Michigan in Pictures. Sadly, she has passed on but you can view more of her photos in her Bits & Pieces gallery on Flickr.
Black Raspberries Growing Wild in Michigan by Lee Rentz
One of the things I love about summertime in Michigan is stumbling upon a snack when I’m out for a walk! Lee found these beauties near Battle Creek.
Head over to Lee’s Flickr for the latest & also check out his Facebook & leerentz.com to view & purchase prints.
