Sage Fruit looks for improved cherry prospects

After a relatively short crop a year ago, early indications for the 2021 Northwest cherry crop suggest that it will be a more normal year and volume will be up over last season, said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit.

“Overall, our fruit size, quality and volume should be good this year,” Sinks said. “Washington cherries should start coming off the trees in early June, with volume picking up and peaking in late June, early July.” 

Availability will continue into August, he said. 

Sage Fruit expects quite a bit of 10.5 row and larger size cherries, he said.

Sage Fruit has added Jeff Baldwin as the director of sales, Sinks said. Additionally, Hailey Monson will be moving into a permanent sales role.

Organic cherries represent about 2.5% to 3% of the total cherry crop, Sinks said, and Sage Fruit continuing to grow its organic volume.

Sinks said Sage Fruit has cherry-specific point-of-purchase bins available to its retail and wholesale partners at no cost.  Sage

Fruit is in the process of finalizing two new cherry package designs that will launch with the 2021 crop, he said.