With the 87th running of the National Cherry Festival now behind us, one would think life would return to a more normal, quieter pace around here. But instead the activity level in northwest Michigan is revving up.

Lots of spectators, vacationers and hometown residents participated in 8-days worth of activities since the Fourth of July during the Cherry Festival, and from all accounts, it was a very successful celebration for the cherry industry, growers, retailers and revelers. Janet and I always enjoy the concerts in the Open Space down on the waterfront, the Queen’s coronation (congratulations to Angela Sayler), parades and the chance to see friends connected to the cherry industry that we have been a part of for many years.

To make sure there’s reason to visit, planners continue to welcome summer fun addicts for an array of different events to our hometown.  The Traverse City Film Festival brings scores more to attend showings of independent films – current, classic, new and some you’ve never heard of before and probably won’t again.  In its fifth year, TCFF is fast becoming an annual don’t-dare-miss-it draw for an entirely different segment of the population.

Gaining in popularity is the Horse-Shows-By-The-Bay equestrian event with riders and competitors from around the country visiting our area.  It’s quite the spectacle with jumping courses and dressage.  But if you aren’t a fan of horses but like jazz, there’s the Manitou Music Festival in Leelanau County or a long marquee of entertainers at the famed Interlochen Center for the Arts.  There are polka festivals, wine tours, art shows, steam engine days and even a 120-mile AuSable Canoe Marathon where athletes paddle over sixteen hours through the night   – and the list goes on and on.

We are pleased that the economy’s troubles have not paralyzed travel and enjoyment in our tourism-based region.  And like many areas in this great country of ours, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to good down-on-the-farm family fun mixed with a bit of arts and culture.

Colder spring and summer temperatures have delayed the fruit harvest by several weeks, here in the Cherry Capitol of the World.  But farmers and processors are predicting a bountiful crop this year.  The hillsides in the Grand Traverse region in our corner of Michigan have a visible red hue to them as the tart cherries deepen in color.  Although predicted to begin a bit later than usual, cherry picking and shaking should start close to the end of July.

Mother Nature has impacted other commodities, too, with farmers guessing the sweet corn harvest may extend as late as the first of October. The summer mainstay – corn on the cob at summer picnics and barbeques – will have us all anxiously waiting.  ‘Knee high by the Fourth of July’ didn’t hold true this season.

From all accounts, 2009 will yield a bountiful harvest of fruit.  As always, we look forward to bringing you Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast products made from quality fruits that are healthy, affordable and – when it comes to tart cherries -  grown locally.

As American as motherhood, the Fourth of July and Cherry Pie …

This patriotic holiday is all about traditions and, with summer in full swing, family and friends come together to enjoy favorite activities.  Doesn’t matter which coast you live on or where you are in between, I hope you’ll have the opportunity to kick back for a few minutes and have some fun.

This year marks the 83rd running of the National Cherry Festival and its full calendar of parades, queen coronation, cherry pit spitting and pie eating contests, concerts, foot races, air shows and more attracts people from around the globe.  With red tart cherries in the spotlight, it’s the perfect time to “salute the fruit” with a Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast harvest special.

The cherry harvest will soon begin and, even though the crop is about two weeks behind schedule due to a cool spring, growers are predicting a bumper crop.
We hope the abundance of fruit will allow us to pass along some cost savings to you, our customers.  Since the federal government regulates the tart cherry industry, only a portion of the crop will be available for sale, but any savings we can negotiate will be reflected in our pricing.

For the month of July, customers can save $1.00 on each quart of Tart Cherry Concentrate.  When you buy 6 or more bottles, you will save $1.50 a quart, and $2.00 a quart when you buy a case of 12 bottles. This is our once-a-year special on our best selling concentrate, so stock up during July.  It keeps for up to two years in the freezer, so why not take advantage of the savings now.  We have many customers who place a single order with friends so they can take advantage of this offering.  Click here to order.

As we kick off the festivities on July 4th, my family and I will be celebrating not only cherries, but also the fact that we live in the greatest Country in the World, and I hope that you will too!