A new cherry variety recently introduced into the area, the Balaton, will bear enough fruit this year for a commercial crop. The Balaton is named for a lake in its native Hungary and was introduced to the US in 1984 by Dr Amy Iezzoni, Professor of Horticulture at MSU.

According to this Record-Eagle article, a grant has been made to Shoreline Fruit, Inc. to expand use of the cherry, which has many advantages. According to Jim Bardenhagen, MSU extension agent for Leelanau County, the Balaton is a good fit for northern Michigan. It is harvested a week or two after the Montmorency tart cherry that is the area's principal variety and is particularly good for the cherry juice used in cherry wines and cherry health food products, two growing areas in cherry marketing.