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Heat, dryness impacting Michigan fruit crop

Fruit quality is holding up well despite the recent heatwave throughout Michigan.

The latest report from USDA says the biggest problem has been the rapid advancement in maturity, which several growers have had trouble keeping up with.

High temps have also slowed color development, made harvest more demanding for hired workers, and raised concerns about how well apples will hold up in storage.

In the Grand Rapids area, a lighter-than-average crop and adequate labor supply has allowed apple harvest to keep up at a very good pace.