Cherry growers happy for normal March weather

DOOR COUNTY - With snow falling in March, things are getting back to normal at Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery and Market.

“Our livelihood was taken away for a year,” said Bob Lautenbach, the owner of the orchard.

Late June last year, cherry trees were mostly bare in Door County. Farmers blamed near 80 degree March weather, followed by April frost.

“There weren't all the pretty cherries on the trees and things like that,” said Lautenbach.

Door County produced about 1.6 million pounds of cherries in 2012. A typical year sees between 10 to 12 million pounds.

“We need cherries this year,” said Lautenbach.

This type of weather helps.

“We've got good snow, we've got good moisture,” said Lautenbach. “We've got ice out on the bay, which is a good thing because it'll hold all the buds on the trees back some.”

Lautenbach says the way things look now, the upcoming crop could be the best Door County has seen in five or six years. He says the down year in 2012 has something to do with it.

“The trees kind of rested last year because they had a year off, so they are very hardy and very strong,” said Lautenbach.

While the snow isn't for everyone, Lautenbach says it will be a good thing when cherry lovers are able to pick their own this summer. A far cry from one year ago.