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MICHIGAN Facts & Trivia

FARMS & FARMERS
Michigan: approximate land area 36,176,779 acres
Farmland is 10,031,807 acres or 27.7% of total land
Organic agriculture accounts for about 58,077 acres
Number of Farms: 56,014 
Principle Farm Operators:
       Men: 47,739   Women: 8,275
(2013 - USDA Economic Research Service: www.ers.usda.gov ) 
[2007-2008 latest available data]

POPULATION & HUNGER
Michigan has a total population of: 9,876,187
Urban population: 8,028,348
Rural population: 1,847,839
Food insecure households*: 14.2%
Households with very low food security*: 5.6%
*Food insecurity - Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
Very low food security - At times during the year, eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced because the household lacked money and other resources for food.
(2013 - USDA Economic Research Service: www.ers.usda.gov )
(Population & Food Security data: 2011)

According to the USDA, 10,700 acres of Asparagus were harvested in Michigan in 2009 (total U.S. harvest was 29,200 acres).

Michigan has a total area of 96,810 square miles, 40,000 of this is water (rivers, lakes, etc.).

Michigan has almost 4 million cherry trees, producing about 150-200 pounds of tart cherries on each tree.

Eau Claire, Michigan, is known as the Cherry Pit Spitting Capital of the World.
   The International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship takes place annually in Eau Claire during the month of July

The world's largest registered Holstein dairy herd can be found in Elsie, Michigan.

The first soda pop made in the U.S. was Vernor's Ginger Ale, created in Detroit, Michigan in 1866.

Battle Creek, Michigan is the Cereal Capital of the World. It is home to Kellogg, Post and Ralston Purina cereal plants.
     The Battle Creek Cereal Festival is an annual June event.

Berrien Springs, Michigan, is known as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World.

The apple blossom is the official state flower of Michigan.

In 1988 the Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was designated as the Official State Fish of Michigan.

In 1997 the Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was designated as the Official Game Mammal of Michigan.