Leave My Michigan Fruit Alooone!!

I hate to whine like a Britney fan, but Muskegon Critic's post in Daily Kos the other day scared me with its headline.   Turns out the post is mostly an explanation of the unique climate and growing conditions which enable a big chunk of western Michigan to produce such fine fruit crops. The only scary parts are when it's pointed out how little climate change it would take to screw these conditions up. That would be catatastrophic for many reasons. I've written in previous posts about the great farmers markets I have the opportunity to shop at around Chicago that are jammed with growers from Michigan. Below are two typical stalls, from a recent market in Northfield, IL, with growers from Coloma, MI.

These fruit crops are about the only bright spot in Michigan's economy right now. They must be protected at nearly any cost. That's why I was encouraged to see this post about the EPA blocking (albeit temporarily) the efforts of a big BP refinery just upwind from Michigan's fruit belt to expand refining of Canadian Tar Sands Crude. The location of this refinery in East Chicago, IN, is part of a strip of Lake Michigan shore, stretching from the southern city limits of Chicago, around the bend of the shore, including the Gary steel mills and a little beyond to the east, which already sits in a permanent sulphurous, yellow haze from the heavy industry. When the wind blows out of the southwest, as it does frequently, it's a short trip across the lake to the orchards and vines of Michigan. Of course, the impact of these pollutants on people is and should be the driving priority behind efforts to curb the emissions, but sparing the fruit is a nice side benefit.