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Part two of The Packer’s editor Tom Karst and the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission’s Michelle Grainger.

Look for a bigger crop of Northwest cherries in 2021 and a nice-sized promotion window for retailers.

The cherry crop for Orondo, Wash.-based Auvil Fruit will be similar but possibly a little larger than a year ago, said Ray Norwood, director of sales and marketing for the company.

BC Tree Fruits had a beautiful cherry set this year with a heavy bloom, said Laurel Van Dam, director of media relations for the Kelowna, British Columbia-based company.

Cherry harvest for Domex Superfresh Growers will start around the first week of June, and gradually ramp up with good volume in mid-June, said Catherine Gipe-Stewart, communications manager for the company.

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.

Chelan Fresh expects to peak on rainier cherries July 1, with dark sweet cherries peaking around July 14.

Within the broad categories of dark sweet and yellow sweet selections, the quest for improved cherry varieties continues for Northwest growers.

CMI Orchards expects an outstanding year for its Northwest cherry crop, said George Harter, vice president of marketing for the company.

The cherry crop outlook is good, but The Oppenheimer Group experienced some frost damage in its orchards, said Jon Bailey, director of the cherry category for Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppy.