Though the Northwest cherry harvest is getting off to a later start in 2011 due to weather events earlier in the season, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, nonetheless expects an increase in volume this year.

“Right now we’re seeing things getting off to a somewhat late start,” said Dan Wohlford, national sales representative for Oneonta, in mid-May.

Mr. Wohlford added, “It will be a struggle to get any kind of volume loading for the Independence Day holiday.”

Loren Queen, marketing and communications manager for Domex Superfresh Growers in Yakima, WA, chose his words carefully when describing growing conditions for the 2011 cherry crop. “Cold. Windy. And late,” he told The Produce News May 12. “But today is a gorgeous day.” He quickly followed up the description by adding that the bees have done their job. “There are piles of blooms out there [in the cherry orchards],” he observed.

L&M Cos., located in Union Gap, WA, anticipates quadrupling its cherry volume in the coming years following the execution of a business agreement with Conrad & Adams Fruit in Grandview, WA. “Conrad & Adams puts out one of the most outstanding packs in the state,” said Keith Horder, director of business development for L&M. “Conrad & Adams has tremendous capacity.”

Bob Mast, vice president of marketing for Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, WA, said the company stays on the cutting edge with its cherry supplies. “We’re pretty progressive here at CMI in terms of varieties,” he told The Produce News on May 10.

The company accounts for 10-12 percent of the Northwest’s annual cherry crop. Bings are the largest volume variety at 43 percent. Sweethearts account for 28 percent, and Rainiers — which Mr. Mast said continue to show slight growth — rank at 12 percent of the manifest. Additionally, CMI markets Chelans and Skeenas.

Mother Nature has been a fickle lady this year.

“We’re having a very cold spring,” said Roger Pepperl, director of marketing for Stemilt Growers Inc. in Wenatchee, WA. “We didn’t have much frost, but it was unseasonably cold.” On May 5, he said daytime temperatures were hovering in the mid-60s. “But it is cold at night,” he noted.

Yakima, WA-based producer Borton & Sons is moving into the 2011 cherry season on a note of cautious optimism. David Whiteside, part of the company’s sales team, said the company planted a total of 1,000 acres to cherries this season, up from the roughly 815 acres farmed in 2010.

As is true for the growing region, cooler weather has had an impact upon production. “It’s been a cold spring which has delayed bloom,” Mr. Whiteside told The Produce News May 13. “Temperatures have been lower than normal, and the November freeze did some damage to trees.”