Summary: SPARTA, Mich. - After losing three-quarters of his apple crop to bad weather last year, Don Armock is more concerned about what Mother Nature has in store for his fruit business in 2009 than how the global recession might affect it.

"Traditional thinking says that when the economy is struggling, people tend to not frequent restaurants as much and tend to eat at home more. The consequence of that is we tend to pick up that business," says Armock, president and co-owner of Riveridge Produce Marketing in Sparta.

His packing and marketing business, which includes a 450-acre apple and sweet cherry orchard, is about 15 miles north of Grand Rapids, in the heart of Michigan's apple country.

While people will put off buying houses and cars in a bad economy, they still need food.

View article at Chicago Tribune