Cherry shipments from the Northwestern United States have been remarkable this season, but will seasonally come to a close this month.
Loadings are expected to end up around the 22 million, 20 pound equivalent boxes this season, not that much below the 25.4 million boxes a year ago. Although last season was a good quality crop, this year it is marked not only by beauty and taste, but exceptionally large sized fruit.
While there has been a lot of concern over Trump Administration tariff issues with China, exports represented 33 percent of the volume this season. The cherry industry was at best only hoping for 30 percent. A nice surprise.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA reports overall, fruit quality is really really high and with great sizing.