Wells Orchards, nestled in Ottawa County, Michigan, is experiencing an overflow of apples despite a late-winter snowstorm. Michael Wells attributes this abundance to consecutive years of favorable weather conditions, resulting in record-breaking harvests and a glut in storage facilities. In 2023, the orchard harvested over 50,000 bushels, surpassing its 2022 record. This trend reflects a broader success within the state, with estimations suggesting Michigan produced a total of 64 million bushels over the past two years.
The surplus has prompted Wells to rent additional storage space and even leave some apples unharvested, a departure from traditional practices. To maintain freshness, the orchard employs a controlled atmosphere storage technique, replacing oxygen with nitrogen and carbon dioxide, effectively pausing the ripening process. Despite the challenges of managing an oversupply and concerns about the impact of an unseasonably warm winter on the forthcoming harvest, Wells remains optimistic, noting that the trees have not yet budded.
Source: fox17online.com