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A stormy, volatile market due to the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced many New York growers to stay conservative this year with their planting and initiatives.

The Northwest cherry harvest won’t reach last year’s 23 million 20-pound boxes in 2020, but there will be plenty of fruit for consumers in the U.S. and beyond, suppliers say.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards has added new tools to its American Dream cherry program, said Danelle Huber, marketing specialist.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, video conferencing is the new thing with Yakima-based Northwest Cherry Growers, said B.J. Thurlby, president.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based The Oppenheimer Group is “renewing” orchards, said Jon Bailey, sales manager.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC introduced a new Ultimate cherry line last season, said Brianna Shales, communications manager.

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has shipped Peruvian hass avocados to South Korea for the first time.

Bonnie Lunblad was elected chairwoman of the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is giving consumers the chance to thank the state’s growers during the pandemic.

The fresh produce industry continues to stress worker safety during the pandemic, while helping consumers eat healthfully during the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some recent news items related to the pandemic.