An early 1920s edition of Western Michigan proclaimed the state to be, “The land of fruit with flavor.” Citing modern methods in care, cultivation, and feeding, the article described Michigan’s apples, cherries, pears, peaches, and plums to be superior in terms of flavor, size, color, and overall attractiveness. In addition to possessing an average 145 day growing season and the ideal climate caused by the moderation of Lake Michigan and the protective blankets of snow, the state’s transportation network allowed for easy shipment to markets nationwide, thus making the region an ideal center for orchards. As of 2018, fruit production added 485.44 million dollars to the state’s economy.