The Fruit Basket Factory Douglas, Michigan In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Douglas was considered the peach capital of Michigan. At one time there were approximately 15,000 peach trees in this village. A local fruit basket factory produced more than one million baskets in a year. This factory was begun in 1898 and was the largest in the state. During the summer season over 200 people were employed. The peach trees were decimated by two frosts. One in 1899 and another in 1906 destroying the trees. The area still grows much fruit but the large peach industry was pretty well over by about 1910. The basket factory and some warehouses nearby were destroyed in a fire in 1926.