<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%"> Ottawa County, WA</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Eric Anderson<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">4.19.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>After devastating weather ravaged Michigan’s blueberry crop last year, things are looking up for this season. <img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl-michigan-blueberries-april-2013_BODY00.jpg" alt="Cropped Images April 19th 2013" />“Everyone is expecting a better crop this year,” said Carlos Garcia Salazar, a small-fruit agent for the Michigan State University Extension's West Central Region.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Last year, maturation caused by warming early in the season was followed by a series of cold snaps, which caused damage to a large portion of the crops.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“The winter damage was minimal,” Salazar said of this year’s crop. “We don’t have problems like last year,” as reported by the Grand Haven tribune.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Area growers note that the past few seasons have been significantly impacted by the weather.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">According to the USDA, blueberry production in Michigan totaled 72 million pounds in 2011 and 87 million pounds in 2012.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The state typically produces more than 100 million pounds of blueberries every year, according to the MSU Extension service.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Salazar said that in light of the approaching 50 to 60 degree weather, he is confident that farmers will begin to see positive results.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/368361" target="_new">Blueberry Report</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
