Oppy anticipates normal harvest timing for cherries, with the first pick of its Orchard View cherries in Oregon set for June 13.
“We anticipate competitive periods in June, especially around Father’s Day and the Fourth of July, with peak volumes expected between June 20 to July 7,” Kelsey Van Lissum, marketing communications manager for Oppy.
Oppy also has some conventional cherries from British Columbia, she said.
“We continue to reflect on the milestone of our 100-year anniversary at Orchard View Cherries that we celebrated in 2023 — a legacy of producing the world’s finest cherries for four generations in The Dalles, Ore.,” Van Lissum said. “As we embark on our first season with a century under our belt, we look toward our next chapter driven by a renewed dedication to excellence.”
Industry expectations point to a good crop in the 16 million to 18 million carton range this year, she said.
“At Orchard View Cherries, our focus is 100% on cherries — this singular focus ensures excellent quality from our team,” Van Lissum said. “We even grow over 90% of the cherries we pack, so retailers can trust that our packs have been carefully nurtured and selected.”
While the cherry season a year ago labored under an overlap between California and the Northwest, this harvest season’s timing is expected to be manageable.
“The past year posed significant challenges for the domestic cherry industry as a whole with the large late-season crop from California creating an oversupply and impacting market dynamics and returns,” she said. “This year, we welcome an average-sized crop with good sizing and quality. With fewer cherries per tree, they will be able to develop into larger cherries.”
Growers have faced significant challenges in the last few years as they’ve dealt with increasing costs alongside static retail prices — dramatically impacting their profitability, Van Lissum said. “This year there seems to be a glimmer of hope, we anticipate a return to historical volumes with good sizing and quality.”
After a challenging few years of weather events, the season is progressing well, experiencing moderate conditions for excellent quality, according to Orchard View President Brenda Thomas.
“It’s the most normal season we’ve experienced in a while, with cool mornings and temperate days,” Thomas said in a news release.
“Chelan, the first variety we pick, is just starting to turn color and is looking great — which tells us a lot about the cherries to come,” Thomas continued. “We’re seeing consistency and good distribution through the trees, which in turn will give us some nice sizing. Mother Nature has been really good to us so far, giving the cherries ample temperatures at the exact time they need it to develop their sugars. It’s looking to be a really tasty crop.”’
Oppy is always looking for bigger, juicier and more flavorful cherries, Van Lissum said.
“We’re increasing volumes of the Pearl varieties in our orchards such as Black Pearl, Burgundy Pearl and Ebony Pearl,” Van Lissum said. “Our tried-and-true varieties include Chelan, bing, kordia, rainier, lapins, regina, skeena and sweetheart — we match each variety to its ideal microclimate and elevation on the banks of the Columbia River.”
Oppy has seen increasing interest in its top-seal package.
For retailers, end-aisle displays seem to work best for cherries as the fruit has the best visibility for shoppers, Van Lissum said.
“In-store promotion is key as cherries are not typically on everyone’s shopping list and continue to be an impulse purchase — we hope that consumers continue see cherries as that truly seasonal item to treat themselves to when they see them at retail,” she said.
On the export front, Oppy anticipates good interest as quality and sizing are expected to be strong.
“We plan to strategize ocean shipments to align with peak volume,” Van Lissum said.
