The Washington cherry crop could be a bit short of earlier expectations, but retailers should have plenty of fruit to promote this summer, says Mac Riggan, vice president of sales and business development for Chelan Fresh, Chelan, Wash.
Crop size could be about 18 million boxes, off slightly from the industry’s first forecast topping 20 million boxes.
“The bottom line is, we’re going to get started in early June, and I think the quality is going to be fantastic, and I think the sizing is going to be really good,” Riggan said.
Riggan’s advice to retailers this year is to promote out of the gate.
“There is money to be made in cherries this year,” he said.
Good Washington cherry volume is expected for Fourth of July promotions, he said.
Riggan said retailers should be communicating with the sales desks of their suppliers by the end of July, because supply of cherries will dry up in August and is expected to finish by about mid-month. Higher elevation orchards, typically harvested late in August, were hit earlier by cold weather that will limit output late in the season.
