Come July, cherries are everywhere here. Sweet. Sour. Deep maroon, golden yellow and even blush pink. Michigan is the second largest grower of cherries in the nation and we're home to the National Cherry Festival. But why?

In this episode we tell you the story of our favorite little stone fruit, the cherry. How did it get here? And how did Michigan become synonymous with cherries?

GUESTS:

Chris Reiser, president for the Peter Dougherty Society.
Nikki Rothwell, 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the year and Michigan State University's extension specialist in tree fruit integrated pest management. 
Jim Eckerle, farmer and owner of Eckerle Farms in Leelanau County & Suttons Bay.
Zach Eckerle, grandson of Jim Eckerle and future owner of Eckerle Farms.

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

Come July, cherries are everywhere here. Sweet. Sour. Deep maroon, golden yellow and even blush pink. Michigan is the second largest grower of cherries in the nation and we're home to the National Cherry Festival. But why?
In this episode we tell you the story of our favorite little stone fruit, the cherry. How did it get here? And how did Michigan become synonymous with cherries?
GUESTS:
Chris Reiser, president for the Peter Dougherty Society. Nikki Rothwell,&nbsp;2025 Cherry Industry Person of the year and Michigan State University's extension specialist in tree fruit integrated pest management. Jim Eckerle, farmer and owner of Eckerle Farms in Leelanau County &amp; Suttons Bay. Zach Eckerle, grandson of Jim Eckerle and future owner of Eckerle Farms.
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a></li>
<li>Call us: 734-764-7840</li>
<li>Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org</li>
</ul>

Ever wondered why we call ourselves “Michiganders”? Or why we say “pop” instead of “soda”? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That’s why we’re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special.

To share a story or submit your questions, head to michiganpublic.org/onhand

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

Ever wondered why we call ourselves &ldquo;Michiganders&rdquo;? Or why we say &ldquo;pop&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;soda&rdquo;? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special.
To share a story or submit your questions, head to <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand">michiganpublic.org/onhand</a>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="https://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work</a>: michiganpublic.org/podfund

On Hand

How did Michigan become the cherry capital? 

A listener shares his story about the lessons in tenderness, abundance and connection a forgotten cherry tree gave him. 

GUEST:
Andrew Harmon originally from Rockford, MI but spent many of his young adult years living in Grand Rapids. He now lives in Boston, MA. 

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

Online Submission Form

Call us: 734-764-7840

Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

A listener shares his story about the lessons in tenderness, abundance and connection a forgotten cherry tree gave him.&nbsp;
GUEST:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Andrew Harmon originally from Rockford, MI but spent many of his young adult years living in Grand Rapids. He now lives in Boston, MA.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

 Your Stories: The Giving Cherry Tree

Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th if you count Huron and Michigan as one). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake — and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac.

LYRICS:

Lake St Clair (Make Her Great)

By Guy Sferlazza

 

In a world that rewards hate

She has always been great

And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires

 

She surrounds us with her love

How many years

and still she’s young

Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair

 

We didn’t have to make her great

She’s the heart of all these lakes

See it for yourself if you dare

 

When the sun is coming up

There’s an ocean full of love

From sea to shining sea,

And she is there

 

All the service to this land

all generations

the grand lake

Of the sweet fresh water sea

Bathed in beauty

 

We, the people shall decide

Make it plain in broad daylight

That’s a great lake

that you may have never seen

 

We proclaimed her a great lake

on this very day

come out and see her here

There’s no compare

 

In this crazy mixed up world.

Take a break from the absurd

find out what she’s worth

Great Lake St Clair.

 

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:


Guy Sferlazza, Shelby Township resident and musician


Candace Smith, owner of Tours Around Michigan

Cover image credit: Adam Yahya Rayes

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

 

Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2026-07-03/are-michigan-and-huron-actually-one-large-great-lake">if you count Huron and Michigan as one</a>). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake &mdash; and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac.
LYRICS:
Lake St Clair (Make Her Great)
By Guy Sferlazza
&nbsp;
In a world that rewards hate
She has always been great
And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires
&nbsp;
She surrounds us with her love
How many years
and still she&rsquo;s young
Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair
&nbsp;
We didn&rsquo;t have to make her great
She&rsquo;s the heart of all these lakes
See it for yourself if you dare
&nbsp;
When the sun is coming up
There&rsquo;s an ocean full of love
From sea to shining sea,
And she is there
&nbsp;
All the service to this land
all generations
the grand lake
Of the sweet fresh water sea
Bathed in beauty
&nbsp;
We, the people shall decide
Make it plain in broad daylight
That&rsquo;s a great lake
that you may have never seen
&nbsp;
We proclaimed her a great lake
on this very day
come out and see her here
There&rsquo;s no compare
&nbsp;
In this crazy mixed up world.
Take a break from the absurd
find out what she&rsquo;s worth
Great Lake St Clair.
&nbsp;
GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>
Guy Sferlazza, Shelby Township resident and musician
</li>
<li>
Candace Smith, owner of Tours Around Michigan
</li>
</ul>
Cover image credit: Adam Yahya Rayes
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a></li>
<li>Call us: 734-764-7840</li>
<li>Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

An ode to Lake St. Clair

Are Michigan and Huron separate lakes – or have we been counting the Great Lakes wrong?

There may actually be four Great Lakes: “Lake” Huron and “Lake” Michigan could actually be considered “lobes” of one big lake — big enough to unseat Lake Superior as the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area.

We hear two takes: one from a scientific perspective, and one from a cultural perspective. 

GUESTS:

Eric Anderson, director of hydrologic science and engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager for the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability.

Cover image credit: 
Aaron - stock.adobe.com/302750092

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

Are Michigan and Huron separate lakes &ndash; or have we been counting the Great Lakes wrong?
There may actually be four Great Lakes: &ldquo;Lake&rdquo; Huron and &ldquo;Lake&rdquo; Michigan could actually be considered &ldquo;lobes&rdquo; of one big lake &mdash; big enough to unseat Lake Superior as the world&rsquo;s largest freshwater lake by surface area.
We hear two takes: one from a scientific perspective, and one from a cultural perspective.&nbsp;
GUESTS:
Eric Anderson, director of hydrologic science and engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager for the University of Michigan&rsquo;s School for Environment and Sustainability.
Cover image credit:&nbsp; <a href="https://stock.adobe.com/images/mackinac-bridge-golden-hour-12/302750092">Aaron - stock.adobe.com/302750092</a>
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a></li>
<li>Call us: 734-764-7840</li>
<li>Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org</li>
</ul>

How did Michigan become the cherry capital?

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