Peach, Pear and Plum Variety Trends in Michigan

Abstract

Elberta is Michigan's leading peach variety. Currently 45 percent of Michigan's bearing peach trees are of that variety. During the past seven years there has been practically no change in the percent of all bearing peach trees reported to be Elberta. Halehaven is the second most important variety and has been steadily increasing in importance. Many growers and other informed trade people feel that possibly the rate of increase of Halehaven will gradually lessen in the next ten years. If this should happen it could mean that the Halehaven variety would stabilize itself at about one-third of Michigan's bearing peach trees. Approximately three-fourths of the State's bearing peach trees are of these two varieties. Redhaven is one of the newest varieties and already ranks third in the number of bearing trees in the State. South Haven and Rochester have decreased in importance so that on a State basis they are no longer commercially important. Fertile Hale, a minor variety in the State, is showing little change in rank. J. H. Hale is gradually becoming less important, however, it continues to be a common variety. Probably the most prominent varieties under "other" are Golden Jubilee and Ambergem.