State Sen. John Damoose has introduced a bill to formally name the cherry as Michigan's official state fruit.

Senate Bill 1003 has bipartisan cosponsors including Sen. Joe Bellino, Sen. John Cherry, Sen. Kevin Daley, Sen. Dan Lauwers, Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Sen. Sam Singh, Sen. Mike Webber, and Sen. Paul Wojno. The bill is being sent to the Senate Government Operations Committee for consideration.

Michigan is the leading grower of tart cherries in the world, producing nearly 70 percent of the U.S. crop in 2024. The National Cherry Festival commended the bill in a release, noting that "the growers, processors, and retailers around the fruit bring millions of dollars to the Michigan economy, designating Traverse City as the Cherry Capital of the World. The cherry brings so much economic activity to Michigan that more than 500,000 people attended the 98th National Cherry Festival in Traverse City this past summer."

National Cherry Festival Executive Director Kat Paye says that "just like Idaho with potatoes and Georgia with peaches, when you think of Michigan, you think of cherries. They are so crucial to Michigan's economy and such a key part of our heritage, it only makes sense to give the cherry this honor. I want to thank Sen. Damoose for taking the lead on this effort and showcasing our favorite fruit."