One of the best parts of summer is all the delicious berries that come into season.

But I’m not talking about just grabbing a carton at the grocery store.

If you’ve never spent a day wandering the rows of a U-pick fruit farm, this is your sign to give it a try.

Today, The ’Gander’s Sophie Boudreau has everything you need to know for your next berry-picking adventure.

AG Nessel joins federal DEI lawsuit (Michigan Advance): Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 20 other state attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration executive order that restricts certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities by federal contractors. The states argue the policy is vague and could jeopardize hundreds of thousands of federal contracts nationwide.

Whitmer in Paris for trade trip (WGVU): Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is in Europe this week promoting Michigan’s aerospace and defense industries, highlighting a dozen Michigan companies at the major Eurosatory defense and security conference in Paris. The trade mission aims to attract investment and jobs to Michigan.

MSU loses AD, weeks after president’s departure (Freep): Michigan State University must now begin searching for a new athletic director after J Batt was hired for the same role at the University of Kentucky after just one year in East Lansing. His departure comes amid leadership turnover at MSU, where President Kevin Guskiewicz is also preparing to leave for a new job at Clemson.

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Who needs packaged produce when you can pick your own? (Hailey Tong/Unsplash)

By Sophie Boudreau

Picture this: It’s a balmy summer afternoon in Michigan, and everyone is feeling antsy. You haven’t had time to go to the grocery store, but braving the overstimulating aisles of Meijer is pretty low on your summer fun list. You’re looking for a “Pure Michigan”-style family adventure that won’t cost more than your monthly mortgage payment, but the kids are tired of walking to the same park. 

Don’t panic, there’s a delicious solution: Berry-picking in Michigan offers the best of all worlds. You’ll get everyone out of the house, the kids can run off some energy in the orchard, fresh air abounds, and—perhaps best of all—you can skip the checkout line in favor of hand-picking your own ingredients for tomorrow’s blueberry muffins. 

Picking your own fruit in Michigan might just be the most wholesome activity imaginable. If you’re ready to embrace your inner cottagecore self, check out our guide for picking berries in the Great Lakes this summer. 

We’ve broken it down by fruit to help you stay organized and included three of the most popular berries that are grown in the Great Lakes state: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. For each fruit, you’ll find three awesome destinations for a day of fun in the field. 

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Random tidbits worth clicking on…

I spent longer than I thought I would playing with this firewood splitting simulator. (shapiro500/Screenshot)

🪵 Want a relaxing way to kill a few minutes? Grab your virtual axe and split some firewood. It’s strangely satisfying.

😱 This recent reddit thread where Michiganders detailed the creepiest experiences they’ve had at home had me sleeping with the lights on.

🌳 And let’s end on the good news that Michigan’s highest point, Mt. Arvon in Baraga County, will remain open to the public thanks to a conservation easement. Over time, Mt. Arvon will eventually become an old-growth forest.

Do you have a cool picture, observation, or comment you’d like to share? Send it here.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Sophie Boudreau. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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