Michigan tart cherries, represented by Leland Township farmer Chris Bardenhagen, recently received geography identification (GI) from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“I hope it will be a strong part of our tart cherry industry’s promotion moving forward, it opens us to some unique possibilities,” Chris Bardenhagen said.
This includes a finalized logo that will be attached to Michigan cherry products.
The designation resembles the iconic brands of Idaho Potatoes and Wisconsin Cheese.
GI branding allows for the promotion of industry-wide branding both domestically and internationally.
The logo features realistic cherries, a red and green color scheme, and the word “Montmorency” draped across the front.
According to Bardenhagen’s presentation at the Northwest Michigan Vineyard show, the logo “did objectively well with consumers.”
The GI can be used to build long-term branding, but it also requires further exploration of funding, cooperation, and the balance of Michigan tart cherry products industry-wide from the likes of the Cherry Marketing Institute and CIAB.
Funding from a recently finished specialty crop block grant helped with the project’s progression, including developing certification standards, creating logos, conducting consumer and legal research, and more.
GI status provides certain intellectual property tools abroad.
Sellers who want to use the label need to provide minimal paperwork along with information about the ingredient list, which must conform to certification standards. Tart cherries need to be the “main ingredient.”
Businesses must also provide processor attestation that cherries are Montmorency and are from Michigan or Door County, Wisconsin.
Leelanau grows the majority of domestically grown cherries.
The label could help fight impostors and imports that help deflate the price of cherries.
Bardenhagen also created logos to represent U.S. cherries as a whole, which was rejected for the moment.
The trademark was granted certification status this fall and took three years to complete.
It will bring international opportunities in the future.
“We can use this advantage for the whole industry,” Bardenhagen said during his presentation at the Northwest Michigan Farm show.