Southeast Michigan fruit update – July 7, 2026
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EmailBlueberry and raspberry harvest continues.
Welcome to the 15th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2026 season. Throughout the season these updates will include information about the weather in the past week and the upcoming week, a fruit-by-fruit guide to current conditions with appropriate pest and disease updates, and other relevant observations.
General observations
In the last week we have experienced high heat, humidity and storms. We are expecting the next week to be warm, with temperatures climbing into the 90s, dropping after storms pass through on Thursday and Friday (July 9–10) and slowly climbing back into the 90s early next week.
Raspberry and blueberry harvests are in full swing while early peach harvest starts and cherries are wrapping up. Growers are starting to renovate strawberries. Powdery mildew is the biggest disease risk this week, and spotted wing drosophila is of course a concern in berry crops. At this point in the season for apples, we are continuing the normal pattern of summer cover sprays.
Our weekly video IPM updates have concluded for the season. See the recordings of the weekly fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space, including the final June 23 meeting.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples: Apples in the region are sizing up, with considerable variation in diameter depending on region and cultivar. We are in the main pattern of summer cover sprays. Spot picking of yellow transparent is expected to start in the next week in our warmest areas.
Blueberries: The main harvest season has started. Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and fruit rot management are priorities.
Brambles: Harvest is underway in summer raspberries and black raspberries. Floral buds and flowers are starting to show up on fall raspberries and blackberries are at fruit set.
Cherries: Harvest has largely wrapped up in both sweet and tart cherries at farms that decided to harvest this year. Unharvested fruit can be a reservoir for spotted wing drosophila, so if you have other crops that are susceptible to SWD, like blueberries and brambles, you may want to remove them.
Grapes: Grapes are sizing up, with many bunches approaching closure.
Peaches and nectarines: Harvest has begun in cultivars like Desiree in our warmer areas. We are still a few weeks away from harvest of main cultivars like Red Haven.
New bulletin: “Best Practices for Peach Orchards with Reduced Crop Load”
Pears: Pears are sizing up. Local scouts have reported sightings of pear psylla adults in orchards.
Plums: Japanese style plums are starting to color, with early varieties being ready to pick in the next week or so. European plums have passed the pit hardening phase and are starting to size up again.
Strawberries: Harvest is done. Thrips damage was extensive in certain parts of the state. Many areas have also seen frost damage, resulting in lower crops at some farms. Some growers have started renovating their fields for next year. You can read more at this article on renovation. Most tank mixes are safe and effective when allowed by the label, but some combinations (e.g. 2,4-D with a graminicide or a fast-acting contact herbicide with glyphosate) can result in reduced effectiveness. Check your labels for tank-mix restrictions and crop safety.
Insect conditions
More in-depth information can be found by watching the latest weekly fruit meetings on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings).
New MSU article: “Don't trust the calendar: Why trapping matters during unusual weather”
New MSU fact sheet: Managing Ambrosia Beetles in Apples
Aphids: Woolly apple aphid populations in apple are on branches with some on terminals while rosy apple aphid populations are down after successful control by growers. Green apple aphids populations seem to have stabilized.
Apple maggot: First catch was reported in southeast Michigan two weeks ago with some additional catches this week. None have been reported in Fennville.
Blueberry maggot: Counts are down this week in Fennville after a spike last week.
Borers: Similar catch to last week of greater peachtree borer and a decrease in lesser peachtree borer have been reported in Fennville.
Cherry fruit fly: Counts were down in Fennville and Southeast Michigan.
Cranberry fruit worm: Counts at Fennville are stable and low.
Codling moth: Adult catches are down regionally. We are likely between generations.
Grape berry moth: Growers in the region observed wild grape bloom the first week of June, which is the biofix for grape berry moth. Counts at Fennville are up from last week to this week.
Japanese beetle: Additional Japanese beetles have been caught at Fennville and counts are climbing in southeast Michigan. Kaolin clay can be a deterrent and perimeter sprays can also be effective for keeping them under control.
Mites: With hot and dry conditions last week, mite populations have climbed. European red mites and rust mites are starting to cause some bronzing in orchards. Twospotted spider mites have started webbing in spots that have existing populations.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts are still down in southeast Michigan, indicating we are between generations. Counts are up in Fennville, so a new generation may be emerging.
Pear psylla: Increased adult and nymph activity has been observed in orchards again.
San Jose scale: We are seeing waxed up scales in the region, meaning the control window has shut.
Spotted lanternfly: Look for nymphs in parts of the state that have documented populations (Detroit, Monroe County, Oakland County).
Spotted wing drosophila: Consistent counts in traps in southeast Michigan and down in Fennville. This pest often prefers fruit to the traps, so low trap counts do not necessarily mean low risk in fruit.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: The RimPro model for Romeo indicates that primary scab season is over. From this point on growers with existing scab infections should focus on controlling secondary scab. We do not anticipate risk this week.
Cherry leaf spot: There is some cherry leaf spot risk July 10-11. See this 2024 article on cherry leaf spot management.
European brown rot: Stone fruits are susceptible to infection around three weeks after shuck split and again three weeks before harvest through the harvest period. We do not expect risk this week.
Fire blight: Since we have moved out of bloom there is low risk in apples and pears, however if there is hail damage growers should spray for fire blight.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black is most important immediately prebloom and during bloom. There is not much risk for black rot this week and grape bloom is mostly done. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154. Risk is expected to be low this week.
Grape downy mildew: We are expecting slight risk from July 10-11 but not much otherwise.
Grape powdery mildew: We are expecting severe risk for the entire week.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. We are expecting severe risk for the entire week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen an average of 9.6 hours of rain accumulating to 1 inch of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- July 7, 2026, issued July 7, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 15.9 | 216 | 11.6 | 211 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 16.8 | 205 | 11.5 | 201 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 16.2 | 225 | 11.6 | 208 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.0 | 240 | 11.2 | 206 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.2 | 221 | 12.0 | 223 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 16.1 | 195 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.4 | 225 | 11.8 | 206 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 17.7 | 217 | 10.5 | 199 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.9 | 229 | 11.3 | 217 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 17.1 | 221 | 10.5 | 196 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.3 | 231 | 9.8 | 203 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.0 | 211 | 11.2 | 197 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 16.4 | 211 | 12.6 | 203 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.3 | 206 | 9.9 | 215 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 16.0 | 218.1 | 11.2 | 206.5 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed June 30 and July 7, 2026; issued July 7, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 30-Jun | 7-Jul | Difference | 30-Jun | 7-Jul | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 14.5 | 15.9 | 1.3 | 200 | 216 | 16.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 14.4 | 16.8 | 2.4 | 197 | 205 | 8.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 15.0 | 16.2 | 1.2 | 207 | 225 | 18.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 14.6 | 16.0 | 1.4 | 225 | 240 | 15.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 14.7 | 15.2 | 0.5 | 213 | 221 | 8.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 15.7 | 16.1 | 0.4 | 191 | 195 | 4.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.2 | 16.4 | 3.2 | 210 | 225 | 15.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 16.7 | 17.7 | 1.0 | 209 | 217 | 8.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.7 | 14.9 | 0.2 | 221 | 229 | 8.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 16.3 | 17.1 | 0.8 | 215 | 221 | 6.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.1 | 15.3 | 0.1 | 225 | 231 | 6.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.0 | 16.0 | 0.1 | 209 | 211 | 2.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 15.2 | 16.4 | 1.2 | 196 | 211 | 15.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 13.9 | 14.3 | 0.4 | 200 | 206 | 6.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 15.0 | 16.0 | 1.0 | 208.4 | 218.1 | 9.6 |
In the short term, we are expecting the next week to be warm, with temperatures climbing into the 90s, dropping after storms pass through on Thursday and Friday, and slowly climbing back into the 90s early next week. In the medium term, we are expecting July to have roughly normal temperatures and precipitation.
Our regional average growing degree day (GDD) accumulation for the season are about seven days ahead of the long-term normals and about equal with the five-year average. In the last week we accumulated on average 261 GDD at 42 F, 237 GDD at 45 F, and 202 GDD at 50 F (see table below). Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-July 7, 2026 Forecast from July 8-14, 2026; issued July 7, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1869 | 1800 | 2097 | 1592 | 1533 | 1780 | 1178 | 1138 | 1350 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2138 | 2008 | 2363 | 1838 | 1724 | 2042 | 1382 | 1300 | 1551 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1965 | 1867 | 2185 | 1680 | 1594 | 1880 | 1251 | 1192 | 1416 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1717 | 1711 | 1935 | 1456 | 1449 | 1653 | 1068 | 1064 | 1231 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1974 | 1914 | 2201 | 1695 | 1640 | 1901 | 1274 | 1232 | 1445 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1799 | 1823 | 2018 | 1534 | 1559 | 1732 | 1135 | 1168 | 1297 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2045 | 1923 | 2272 | 1758 | 1652 | 1965 | 1327 | 1249 | 1499 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1973 | 1916 | 2158 | 1663 | 1645 | 1862 | 1247 | 1241 | 1412 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1852 | 1792 | 2071 | 1584 | 1528 | 1783 | 1183 | 1137 | 1347 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1627 | 1671 | 1843 | 1371 | 1418 | 1566 | 996 | 1046 | 1156 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1661 | 1677 | 1890 | 1407 | 1423 | 1616 | 1029 | 1051 | 1202 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1875 | 1867 | 2094 | 1605 | 1598 | 1803 | 1201 | 1196 | 1364 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1882 | 1810 | 2104 | 1606 | 1541 | 1807 | 1193 | 1141 | 1360 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1743 | 1719 | 1963 | 1483 | 1462 | 1682 | 1095 | 1083 | 1259 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1866 | 1821 | 2085 | 1591 | 1555 | 1791 | 1183 | 1160 | 1349 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed June 30 and July 7, 2026; issued July 7, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F |
| 30-Jun | 7-Jul | Difference | 30-Jun | 7-Jul | Difference | 30-Jun | 7-Jul | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1610 | 1869 | 259.0 | 1354 | 1592 | 238.0 | 975 | 1178 | 203.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1872 | 2138 | 266.0 | 1593 | 1838 | 245.0 | 1172 | 1382 | 210.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1708 | 1965 | 257.0 | 1444 | 1680 | 236.0 | 1051 | 1251 | 200.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1468 | 1717 | 249.0 | 1227 | 1456 | 229.0 | 875 | 1068 | 193.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1705 | 1974 | 269.0 | 1447 | 1695 | 248.0 | 1061 | 1274 | 213.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1545 | 1799 | 254.0 | 1301 | 1534 | 233.0 | 936 | 1135 | 199.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1777 | 2045 | 268.0 | 1512 | 1758 | 246.0 | 1116 | 1327 | 211.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1673 | 1973 | 300.0 | 1420 | 1663 | 243.0 | 1039 | 1247 | 208.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1595 | 1852 | 257.0 | 1348 | 1584 | 236.0 | 982 | 1183 | 201.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1381 | 1627 | 246.0 | 1146 | 1371 | 225.0 | 806 | 996 | 190.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1416 | 1661 | 245.0 | 1183 | 1407 | 224.0 | 840 | 1029 | 189.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1615 | 1875 | 260.0 | 1366 | 1605 | 239.0 | 997 | 1201 | 204.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1620 | 1882 | 262.0 | 1365 | 1606 | 241.0 | 987 | 1193 | 206.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1486 | 1743 | 257.0 | 1247 | 1483 | 236.0 | 894 | 1095 | 201.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1605 | 1866 | 261 | 1354 | 1591 | 237 | 981 | 1183 | 202 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly agricultural weather forecast reports
More information and reports on normal weather conditions and departures from normal can be found on the NOAA Climate Prediction Center website, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals website, NOAA Climate Normals Quick Access Page (which may be searched by region), and Midwest Regional Climate Center website.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (grant no 2024-70006-43569) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
