No doubt people already know that Michigan is the #1 producer of red tart cherries, producing nearly 75 percent of the nation's supply. But cranberry beds in the Great Lakes State? While it may seem unlikely, it's becoming a reality, offering Americans a new source for one of their favorite flavors, providing Michigan growers a new opportunity for commercial production, and reshaping part of Michigan's wetland terrain to accommodate the round, red, tart berries.  Michigan growers currently have over 150 acres of cranberries planted.

Imagine red tart cherries and cranberries....Michigan is getting bogged down in red!

In fact, cranberries - long associated with New England - are popping up in parts of the Midwest. The industry's expansion may have been spurred by America's growing year-round demand for the fruit. Once relegated to a corner on the Thanksgiving table - and in the tubular shape of a tin can - cranberries now flavor fruit drinks, muffins and are served in dried form as snack foods.

For more information about the development of the cranberry industry in Michigan, contact Bob Craig, Director of the Office of Agriculture Development, Michigan Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909 or 517-241-2178. For information about how to grow cranberries in Michigan, contact the Michigan Cranberry Council, c/o Eric Hanson, Horticulture Department, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824 or (517) 355-5191 ext. 1386.