<p>After suffering devastating freeze losses just last year, Michigan fruit tree growers took measures to assure history would not repeat itself this week, according to the Macomb Daily <img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/michigan-stone-fruit-update-banner.jpg" alt="IMAGES MAY 18 WEEKEND EDITION - 2013" />Michigan growers battled the temperature drop this last week with a combination of wind machines, helicopters, orchard heaters and bonfires to keep the cold at bay. Despite the preparation, some apple trees in southeastern Michigan had “as much as 50 to 60 percent bud kill,” reported Michigan State University extension agent Bob Tritten. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“There is a chance that these blocks can still have a decent crop of apples this season if we don’t get more cold weather,” Tritten said. “Freeze damage is extremely variable across east Michigan.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Don Armock of western Michigan reported that his sweet cherry and apple crops look good for the season. Armock is an owner of Riveridge Produce Marketing and Fruit Ridge Farm Market in Sparta Township, north of Grand Rapids. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“At this point, we have a strong-looking crop on the trees and we’re cautiously optimistic about the weather,” MLive.com quoted Armock as saying of the cherry trees. “While sweet cherries blossomed a few days later than normal, the warm temperatures that followed make it likely that we’ll harvest right on time — just at or after the Fourth of July.”<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/michigan-stone-fruit-update-cropped.jpg" alt="IMAGES MAY 18 WEEKEND EDITION - 2013" /><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.macombdaily.com/article/20130516/NEWS03/130519620/michigan-fruit-growers-seem-to-have-less-frost-damage " target="_new">Macomb Daily</a> </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
