California’s sweetest six weeks of summer expected to begin May 14

California cherries mark the onset of the cherry season, eagerly awaited worldwide. Beginning in mid-May and typically concluding in early June, the short California cherry season garners anticipation among cherry lovers, as retailers clamor to get what they need for their store shelves.

Among commercially cultivated fruits, cherries stand out as the last to bloom and the first to be harvested each year.

From May to June, California witnesses a harvest of more than 9 million 18-pound packages of cherries. This prolific yield is cultivated by 600 producers and processed by 22 operations situated in central California’s prime growing regions.

Across these approximately 40,000 acres of cherry orchards, an array of nearly 50 distinct cherry varieties flourish. Predominantly destined for the fresh market, a portion is allocated for alternative uses such as drying, juicing and freezing. Nearly 60 percent of the California cherry crop is distributed within domestic marketing channels, while the remaining 40 percent is exported to various global markets, maintaining a 10-year average of 6.2 million boxes of cherries.

Last year, California got a late start to its cherry season, but that led to a better-than-expected season for most in the industry, with strong retail prices and an increased demand among consumers.

The 2024 California cherry season is slated to begin May 14, according to the California Cherry Board, a state marketing order representing approximately 850 growers and 22 packers of all California fresh cherry varieties. The California Cherry Board, which is comprised of both growers and packer/shippers of California sweet cherries, exists to provide information, crop updates and facts about cherries to our customers locally and around the world.

Since the 1970s, fresh sweet cherries from the United States, have been effectively marketed in export markets. These promotional efforts encompass marketing initiatives aimed at both trade partners and consumers across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. Moreover, the cherry industries in the Northwest and California actively engage in trade policy endeavors in numerous countries to streamline market access for sweet cherries. Notable achievements include the successful facilitation of market openings for U.S. cherries in Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Mexico and Chile.

California’s major fresh-market cherry variety is the Bing. It is well known as a large, dark red cherry with superb flavor and firm, juicy flesh. It is described as sweet, acidic with excellent flavor, juicy, firm and crunchy. Bing cherries mature mid-season. It is the predominant variety available from California for the majority of the month of May and into early June.

The Brooks cherry variety, developed by the University of California, is distinguished by its large size, firm texture and ability to thrive in hot climates. Renowned for its sweet, rich flavor profile, Brooks cherries boast a satisfying balance, akin to the Bing variety. Ripening prior to Bing, they are among the first cherries to grace the early weeks of California’s cherry harvest, commencing in mid-April.

Chelan cherries, medium in size, offer a delightful tartness when harvested at peak flavor. Maturing 11 to 14 days earlier than Bing, Chelan cherries present an attractive appearance with mahogany-red skin and medium to dark red flesh. Their mild, sweet taste and firm texture make them an appealing choice.

Coral cherries, characterized by glossy dark flesh and exceptional sweetness reminiscent of Bing cherries, mature in early midseason, approximately 5 days after Chelan. This export-quality fruit, noted for its firmness and large to very large size, is a sought-after variety.

Rainier cherries, notable for their large size, yellow hue tinged with a red blush and light-yellow flesh, offer an exquisite flavor profile marked by high sugar levels. Positioned as a premium niche variety, Rainier cherries ripen immediately following Bing.

Tulare cherries, a sizable dark red variety, are early-season contenders with a commendable flavor profile.

Ripening 8 to 9 days ahead of Bing, Tulare cherries are typically available during the early stages of the California cherry season, commencing in mid-April.

While they may not match Bing in firmness, they still offer a satisfying option for cherry enthusiasts.