Apple production in Michigan is down, according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture and Michigan Statistical Office.

Production this season was 720 million pounds, down from 890 million in 2003.

The preliminary farm-level value of the crop was $83.94 million and Michigan ranked third in U.S. apple production behind Washington and New York.

Washington produced 5.9 billion pounds and New York produced 1.1 billion pounds in 2004.

Meanwhile, tart cherry production was 149 million pounds, a decrease from the 154 million pounds produced in 2003, with an average yield of 5,520 pounds per acre and total value placed at $16.311m.

Blueberry production in Michigan was 80 million pounds, about 35 percent of the US total, with growers harvesting 17,400 acres in 2004. The farm-level value was $97.21m.

Strawberry production in Michigan was 4.1 million pounds on 900 harvested acres, with a value of around $4m.

Michigan peach production was 37.4 million pounds, down from 47 million pounds in 2003. Total bearing acres were 5,200, and value was $10.274m.

Pear production in Michigan was 3,460 tonnes from 850 acres and value was around $1m. Plum produced 2,500 tonnes from 750 acres with a value of $705,000.

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