Northwest cherries: First drop a big one but will likely result in bigger fruit
Northwest cherries: First drop a big one but will likely result in bigger fruit
The "nuances" of what happened during pollination and cold weather earlier this season brought about a mid-May first drop of Northwest cherries that B.J. Thurlby of the Washington State Fruit Commission called "the most severe in 10 years.
But Mr. Thurlby was quick to add this year's crop, while not the 13 million-plus boxes originally estimated, will hit between 11 million and 11.5 million boxes, "right where it was last year, when it was one of the larger crops on record.
"And that's not such a bad thing, Mr. Thurlby said of the drop, noting that "growers don't have to thin. He added, "This won't be a record crop, but it's a good-size crop.
Another factor to be considered this season is that "California will be out of the water, its crop finished by June 5. Mr. Thurlby said Northwest growers "will barely be going by June 1, so there might be a little gap and retailers will need to be patient.
He added, "I think demand is for 14 [million] to 15 million boxes, and we're feeling both the domestic and export markets.
Along with virtually every cherry grower-shipper in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Thurlby verbally crossed his fingers against adverse weather through harvest. "One challenge is what happens if it rains, but the forecast is for blue skies, he said.
The Northwest cherry industry encompasses some 30,000 acres of trees in Washington state, along with 10,000 in Oregon and another 3,500 between Idaho and Utah for a total of 43,000 acres.
"It's been growing at about 3-4 percent each year, Mr. Thurlby said of the acreage. New acres are planted primarily in later-maturing cherries available after July. Those include Lapins, Sweethearts and Skeenas. The Staccato is also a later cherry.
"We also have some high-elevation Rainiers that are available from June 15 through late July, Mr. Thurlby said.
Bings and other sweet red cherries represent 65 percent of the region's total production, and exports are largely Bings as well.
"No one variety has a higher demand than another, Mr. Thurlby said. "It just so happens that Bing is such a great cherry.
Organics continue to make inroads in production tallies, and this year there will be 3,000 tons of organically grown cherries in the Northwest.
"That's a half-million boxes for the world, Mr. Thurlby commented. "Demand continues to rise every year, and organic growers are planting more and more.
While acreage has grown at a rate of 3-4 percent, actual production has increased by 14 percent per annum for the last 10 years, according to information provided by the NWC/WSFC.
"This rapid growth, along with increased plantings at the beginning and end of the season, translates directly into extra sales opportunities for [retail] stores, the organizations' literature stated.
As far as advancements in the technology of cherry growing, Mr. Thurlby said, "We're always trying to figure out newer, bigger, firmer, later varieties. And there's demand for broader packaging options. The four-pound clamshell is not just at club stores anymore. People are willing to go out there and make a $10 purchase.
(A full report on Northwest cherries appears in the June 6 issue of The Produce News.)
But Mr. Thurlby was quick to add this year's crop, while not the 13 million-plus boxes originally estimated, will hit between 11 million and 11.5 million boxes, "right where it was last year, when it was one of the larger crops on record.
"And that's not such a bad thing, Mr. Thurlby said of the drop, noting that "growers don't have to thin. He added, "This won't be a record crop, but it's a good-size crop.
Another factor to be considered this season is that "California will be out of the water, its crop finished by June 5. Mr. Thurlby said Northwest growers "will barely be going by June 1, so there might be a little gap and retailers will need to be patient.
He added, "I think demand is for 14 [million] to 15 million boxes, and we're feeling both the domestic and export markets.
Along with virtually every cherry grower-shipper in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Thurlby verbally crossed his fingers against adverse weather through harvest. "One challenge is what happens if it rains, but the forecast is for blue skies, he said.
The Northwest cherry industry encompasses some 30,000 acres of trees in Washington state, along with 10,000 in Oregon and another 3,500 between Idaho and Utah for a total of 43,000 acres.
"It's been growing at about 3-4 percent each year, Mr. Thurlby said of the acreage. New acres are planted primarily in later-maturing cherries available after July. Those include Lapins, Sweethearts and Skeenas. The Staccato is also a later cherry.
"We also have some high-elevation Rainiers that are available from June 15 through late July, Mr. Thurlby said.
Bings and other sweet red cherries represent 65 percent of the region's total production, and exports are largely Bings as well.
"No one variety has a higher demand than another, Mr. Thurlby said. "It just so happens that Bing is such a great cherry.
Organics continue to make inroads in production tallies, and this year there will be 3,000 tons of organically grown cherries in the Northwest.
"That's a half-million boxes for the world, Mr. Thurlby commented. "Demand continues to rise every year, and organic growers are planting more and more.
While acreage has grown at a rate of 3-4 percent, actual production has increased by 14 percent per annum for the last 10 years, according to information provided by the NWC/WSFC.
"This rapid growth, along with increased plantings at the beginning and end of the season, translates directly into extra sales opportunities for [retail] stores, the organizations' literature stated.
As far as advancements in the technology of cherry growing, Mr. Thurlby said, "We're always trying to figure out newer, bigger, firmer, later varieties. And there's demand for broader packaging options. The four-pound clamshell is not just at club stores anymore. People are willing to go out there and make a $10 purchase.
(A full report on Northwest cherries appears in the June 6 issue of The Produce News.)
