Chelan Fresh expects plenty of cherry promotions this summer 

While retailers may not be able to take full advantage of vast Northwest cherry supplies for Fourth of July ads, Mac Riggan says grocers will have many opportunities to reap dollars from retail cherry promotions later in the summer.  

Riggan, director of marketing for Chelan Fresh, Chelan, Wash., said that the state’s later-than-usual harvest start will result in lighter-than-typical June volume. Still, the combination of California fruit and early volume of Northwest cherries should supply U.S. retailers with good promotable Fourth of July volumes, he said.  

And beyond that, Riggan said there will be good promotable Northwest cherry volume all of July.  

“And it's probably going to be one of the better supplies for August that we've ever had,” he said. “So, retailers, whatever they don't make up [early], they could really make it up in July and August. I think the Washington crop bodes well for retailers.”  

The first industry estimate put the Northwest cherry crop at 19.9 million boxes, Riggan said, substantially up from 2022. 

Bing variety cherry trees seem to be carrying bigger yields than some other varieties, he said.  

In general, cherry yields north of Wenatchee may be a little lighter than southern districts, he said.   

Mid-May temperatures were running 85 degrees to 90 degrees. A continuation of those unseasonably warm temperatures could push harvest up a few days as the season goes on, Riggan said.  

Hot temperatures could leave shippers a little better prepared for Fourth of July ads than they anticipated in early May, he said.   

While there were still more questions than answers about the crop in mid-May, Riggan said he believes it will be a good Northwest cherry season for all.  

Variety and pack options  

Chelan Fresh will continue to feature Orondo Ruby variety cherries, which will begin harvest around June 25. That’s about 10 days later than usual. The variety is harvested and packed for a couple of weeks.  

Besides pouch bags and other options, Chelan Fresh also offers top-seal cherry packs in the options of 1-, 2- and 3-pound capacities, he said.