Western Slope cherries short but sweet
Western Slope cherries short but sweet
DELTA, CO -- Spring frost and sluggish pollination action by bees are being cited as factors contributing to the short cherry crop for Colorado's Western Slope, but at the same time, shippers are calling this probably the best quality they've ever had on cherries.
At United Marketing Exchange, here, General Manager Harold Broughton and Sales Manager Mike Gibson said June 18 that shipping had started that day for Hulteen Orchards on nearby Antelope Hill. In addition, Mr. Broughton farms some 40 acres in Dominquez Canyon, north of Delta, and his cherry harvest had begun the previous week.
"Growers on the Western Slope have lost substantial volume," Mr. Gibson said of the cherries. "Final figures are not in, but the early varieties were hardest hit."
Mr. Gibson and Mr. Broughton agreed that Rainier volume, which was expected to hit the third week of June, would be closer to normal.
"Definitely demand exceeds supplies," Mr. Gibson said of the red cherries. He added that Bings would run through July 4, "hopefully."
He continued, "Some of the losses are due to lower pollination. Growers said the same number of bees is being used, but they're not as aggressive in their pollination. And we had hard frost from mid- to late April, when the trees were in late bloom."
The cherries bloomed earlier than normal this year, which brought the fruit on about a week earlier. "The norm is now June 15 to 20 for volume, and it used to be later," Mr. Gibson said.
Most of the cherries marketed by United stay in the state and are shipped under the "Tom-Tom" label. Random-weight two-pound bags are used for Bings, and 1.25-pound bags are used for the Rainier cherries.
The men said that there are no organic cherries being handled by United this season, but it is an avenue being explored for the future.
At United Marketing Exchange, here, General Manager Harold Broughton and Sales Manager Mike Gibson said June 18 that shipping had started that day for Hulteen Orchards on nearby Antelope Hill. In addition, Mr. Broughton farms some 40 acres in Dominquez Canyon, north of Delta, and his cherry harvest had begun the previous week.
"Growers on the Western Slope have lost substantial volume," Mr. Gibson said of the cherries. "Final figures are not in, but the early varieties were hardest hit."
Mr. Gibson and Mr. Broughton agreed that Rainier volume, which was expected to hit the third week of June, would be closer to normal.
"Definitely demand exceeds supplies," Mr. Gibson said of the red cherries. He added that Bings would run through July 4, "hopefully."
He continued, "Some of the losses are due to lower pollination. Growers said the same number of bees is being used, but they're not as aggressive in their pollination. And we had hard frost from mid- to late April, when the trees were in late bloom."
The cherries bloomed earlier than normal this year, which brought the fruit on about a week earlier. "The norm is now June 15 to 20 for volume, and it used to be later," Mr. Gibson said.
Most of the cherries marketed by United stay in the state and are shipped under the "Tom-Tom" label. Random-weight two-pound bags are used for Bings, and 1.25-pound bags are used for the Rainier cherries.
The men said that there are no organic cherries being handled by United this season, but it is an avenue being explored for the future.