The Northwest cherry industry anticipates a nice-sized 2024 crop of 20.9 million boxes, 12% up over a year ago.
With a start date of about June 1, the 2024 Northwest cherry crop will begin 10-12 days ahead of the 2023 crop, according to a news release from Northwest Cherry Growers. At the end of the season in August, however, industry leaders predict volume will run below the pace of shipments in 2023.
The Northwest cherry industry expects to ship fruit for close to 90 days, starting about the first of June. Retailers won’t endure a gap in the supply between California cherries and Northwest cherries this season, the release said.
“The early season volume on the Northwest trees should sufficiently help cherry-focused retailers transition from this year’s California crop,” the release said. “Between cherries from California and the early June start of harvest in the Northwest there should be ample opportunity for retailers to source cherries all weeks of June and July.”
Winter snap
Over the winter, higher-elevation orchards (above 1,900 feet elevation) were hit by subzero temperatures, which means that coming into the season the prospects for the late maturing fruit will be reduced, Northwest Cherry Growers said. Overall, the early and mid-season orchards in the Northwest should have an average crop on the trees, while the late crop (last part of July and all of August) will see a reduction in tonnage of approximately 50%.
Primarily, late harvest orchards from Wenatchee, Wash., up north through Canada were affected by the winter freeze. Higher elevation orchards around the Yakima, Wash., Dalles, Ore., and Hood River, Ore., areas seem to have fared better than the industry’s northern counterpart orchards, the release said.
Cherry cheer
The California sweet cherry industry is predicting a crop close to 10.2 million (18-pound equivalent boxes) in 2024, with harvest beginning April 19 and just over 400,000 boxes having shipped through about May 7, the release said.
This season’s “full” cherry crops along the Pacific Coast means that both consumers and retailers will have ample opportunity to enjoy the seasonal flavor, health benefits and incremental sales magic that cherries sweet cherries offer, the release said.
“If you are a retailer do not miss the opportunity to promote the number one dollar per square foot item in the produce department,” Northwest Cherry Growers said in the release.
