Yakima, Wash.-based Washington Fruit Growers’s cherry harvest will roll from early June through most of July, says Dan Davis, director of business development.
“The initial indications are that there will be a good volume of cherries this season,” Davis said, noting cherry availability could extend into early August for the marketer.
Washington Fruit Growers packs both organic and conventional fruit, with packing locations at its main plant at Washington Fruit & Produce in Yakima and the other being at Dallesport, Wash., closer to Oregon on the Columbia River.
Davis said Washington Fruit Growers expects to pack a larger volume of cherries compared with a year ago.
Market conditions caused fruit to be diverted from the fresh market in 2023, he said.
“We’re hoping for a better year and that not having to be the case this season,” Davis said. “Fruit are well spaced in the tree, and it is looking like fruit size will be good for the season.”
Davis said the dominant cherry package continues to be catch-weight bags.
“It’s the format most of retail has adopted and fits well for most display methodologies,” he said. “There are some clamshell users, but by and large the fruit will be packed in catch-weight bags.”
Cherry growers need a better season after a tough year in 2023, he said. “We’re hoping to strike the balance early in terms of velocity through retail that still allows our growers to operate with a return.”
