<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Weather delays Washington cherries

Crop expected to be up from last year

By Mai Hoang, Yakima Herald-Republic
Published: May 22, 2017, 4:58pm

YAKIMA — Planning to have a bowl of juicy red Yakima Valley cherries on your Memorial Day menu?

Sorry, but you might have to look elsewhere for the fruit: This year’s Northwest cherry harvest won’t start until the middle of next month.

That’s in sharp contrast to last year when harvest started in late May.

Cooler temperatures have pushed back harvest by several weeks, said James Michael, who oversees domestic promotions for Northwest Cherry Growers, which represents growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana.

While there’s a longer wait, once the region’s cherries arrive, there will be more than ample opportunity for consumers to get their fix.

“From a consumer standpoint, they’ll have plenty of cherries available for the Fourth of July,” he said.

And for much of the summer months. Current industry estimates put this year’s crop at 22.7 million 20-pound boxes, which would be an 8 percent increase from last year.

In addition, because of greatly varied weather conditions in the Northwest’s cherry growing areas, officials anticipate a harvest lasting from 90 to 100 days.

That means consumers nationwide will be able to buy Northwest cherries well into August. Last season, the number of boxes packed and shipped peaked in late June and then dropped dramatically by early July.

There will also be more of the Rainier cherries: A yield of 2 million 15-pound boxes is expected this season, which would be a 20 percent bump from last year.

Loading...