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Fruit Ridge (Michigan)

 

 
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Fruit Ridge (Michigan)
 
 
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Fruit Ridge (also known as The Ridge) is a topographical land feature and growing region in Western Michigan
Western Michigan

West Michigan, also known as Western Michigan, is a region in the U.S. state of Michigan in its Lower Peninsula....
. The area is so named for its extensive agricultural activity, specifically because of its Fruit Production. It is considered to be a "agricultural mecca" as its unique features make it one of the prime fruit-growing regions in the world. The area's deposits of fertile clay loam
Loam

Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration , considered ideal for gardening and agricultural uses. Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to tillage than clay soils....
 soils with excellent moisture holding qualities, elevation of greater than 800 feet, and its proximity to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. The third-largest of the Great Lakes, it is bounded, from west to east, by the U.S....
; creates a unique climate and provides great soil and terrain for the growing of premium fruits and vegetables.






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Fruit Ridge (also known as The Ridge) is a topographical land feature and growing region in Western Michigan
Western Michigan

West Michigan, also known as Western Michigan, is a region in the U.S. state of Michigan in its Lower Peninsula....
. The area is so named for its extensive agricultural activity, specifically because of its Fruit Production. It is considered to be a "agricultural mecca" as its unique features make it one of the prime fruit-growing regions in the world. The area's deposits of fertile clay loam
Loam

Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration , considered ideal for gardening and agricultural uses. Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to tillage than clay soils....
 soils with excellent moisture holding qualities, elevation of greater than 800 feet, and its proximity to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. The third-largest of the Great Lakes, it is bounded, from west to east, by the U.S....
; creates a unique climate and provides great soil and terrain for the growing of premium fruits and vegetables. The Ridge is well known for apple production, in 2006 the area accounted for 65% of all Michigan apple production. The Ridge is approximately 8 miles wide and 20 miles long covering 158 sq. miles in portions of Kent
Kent County, Michigan

Kent County is a Counties of the United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids, Michigan–Wyoming, Michigan Grand Rapids-Wyoming metropolitan area....
, Newaygo
Newaygo County, Michigan

Newaygo County is a Counties of the United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids, Michigan–Wyoming, Michigan, MI, Grand Rapids-Wyoming metropolitan area....
, Muskegon
Muskegon County, Michigan

Muskegon County is a Counties of the United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 170,200, with the 2006 census estimate putting the county at a population of 175,231....
, and Ottawa
Ottawa County, Michigan

Ottawa County is a Counties of the United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 238,314 with a projection of 257,671 in 2006....
 counties. It extends from Walker
Walker, Michigan

Walker is a city in Kent County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,842 at the United States Census, 2000. Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township....
 in the south; to Grant
Grant, Michigan

Grant is a city in Newaygo County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 881 at the 2000 United States Census. The city is on the boundary between Grant Township, Newaygo County, Michigan and Ashland Township, Michigan, but is politically independent of both....
 in the North, and is primarily centered around Sparta
Sparta, Michigan

Sparta is a village in Kent County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,159 at the United States census, 2000. The village is entirely surrounded by Sparta Township, Michigan....
; the location of the Old Orchard Juice Company
Old Orchard Brands

Old Orchard Brands, LLC is a privately owned juice company, located in Sparta, Michigan. The company began in 1985, as a producer of apple juice....
.

Renewable Energy

In addition to agricultural practices, Fruit Ridge is also becoming an area of interest for the construction of commercial wind farms. Iberdrola Renewables of Spain has installed a nearly 200-foot-high tower on the ridge to test whether the wind is strong enough to produce a steady flow of electricity. Company officials hope to build 30 to 35 towers in the area. The Ridge is area of interest because of the availability of straight line winds, existing high-voltage transmission lines, and farmers eager to preserve agriculture on the ridge. Heritage Sustainable Energy of Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County, Michigan....
 has also been securing wind rights leases in the Fruit Ridge Area. It is estimated that landowners will receive from $3,000 to $5,000 per year per megawatt.

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program

In 2005, International baby food manufacturer Gerber Products Company
Gerber Products Company

Gerber Products Company is a purveyor of baby food and baby products. The company was founded in 1927 in Fremont, Michigan by Daniel Frank Gerber, owner of the Fremont Canning Company producing canned fruits and vegetables....
 as well as Pacific Biocontro, and Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public university research university in East Lansing, Michigan, Michigan United States. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act....
 all were working with area apple packers to develop a region-wide codling moth
Codling moth

The codling moth is a member of the Lepidopteran family Tortricidae. They are known as an agriculture pest, their larva being the common apple worm or maggot....
 mating disruption program. This pest, which has been a major apple pest for many years, is developing documented resistance to the organo-phophate insecticides.

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