Predictions of bad fruit crops proving accurate

The Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association said the region's tart cherry growers expect to process about 2 million pounds this year. That's a tiny fraction of the amount in more typical seasons. The total was 92.5 million pounds in 2011.

Suttons Bay cherry farmer Don Gregory said he expects to harvest less than 1 percent of his average crop, if anything.

An unusual warm-up in March followed by sub-freezing temperatures in April has devastated many of Michigan's orchard crops.

The food packers group says apple production in northwestern Michigan will total about 2.5 million bushels, a drop-off of more than 90 percent from last year.