Fruit Belt Explained

Fruit Belt is a term in the United States for an area where the microclimate provides good conditions for fruit growing.

Fruit Belts are prominent around the North American Great Lakes region, notably West Michigan (Fruit Ridge) and western Northern Lower Michigan in tandem,^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} and the southern shore of Lake Erie.^[5] The conditions that produce a micro-climate favorable to fruit cultivation are the same that produce lake-effect snow; therefore, Fruit Belts and snowbelts are often concurrent. The map at right shows Great Lakes snowbelts which cover a somewhat larger area than the fruit belt. Notably, there are no Fruit Belts in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A Fruit Belt also exists in Central Washington State.^[6] Berries are grown on the West Coast.

See also

• American Viticultural Area
• List of belt regions of the United States

Further reading

• Book: Ellis, Franklin . 1880 . History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan . https://archive.org/stream/historyofberrien00ensi#page/118/mode/2up . Chapter XIX: The Fruit Belt . Philadelphia . D.W. Ensign & Co . 118 - 126 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fruit Growing Conditions . 2011-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080908043851/http://www.michiganfruitbelt.org/fruitgrowing.htm . 2008-09-08 . Southwest Michigan Fruit Belt Project .
2. "Image of the Month: Fruit Belt ". Archives of Michigan, Michigan Historical Center, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, October 2007.
3. "The Fruit Belt " (historical marker S0155, erected 1958). Michigan Historical Commission, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Webpage retrieved on 2010-06-29.
4. Book: Henry, Alfred J.. Climatology of the United States, Bulletin Q. 1906. U.S. Weather Bureau. 556.
5. "Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt: Concord Grape Belt Tourism ". Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
6. News: Paul J.C. . Friedlander . Circle of Beauty . . 2009-08-05 . Reprinted in St. Petersburg Times, 1977-07-03.