Apples in cherry land:Northwest Michigan cherry growers are planting more fresh market apples

摘要

We're cherry growers who also grow apples."That was Chris Alpers "apologizing" to visitors at his family's Red Path Orchards and Alpers Farms.His guests were members of the Michigan Pomesters, an organization dominated by apple growers from Fruit Ridge, the area just north of Grand Rapids where nearly half of the state's apple crop is grown.Alpers conceded he was a minor-league player talking to big-league pros, but he didn't have anything to be ashamed of. His block of fourth-leaf, high-density Gale Gala looked healthy and productive. Well, the rows were a little too far apart to suit thecritics.