Excellent cherry shipments are hoped for due to favorable weather this spring in the Pacific Northwest.
Early estimates project a larger cherry crop this season, about 24.5 million boxes, which is about 28% higher than last year. This is up from last year’s 19 million boxes.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA grows, packs and ships cherries. The company is highly optimistic due to favorable growing conditions.
CMI Orchards of Wenatchee, WA expressed similar thoughts about the good weather.
A winter freeze impacted the overall 2024 crop size in Washington, but that’s not the case this year, which marketers hope will allow for an extended harvest into September.
Chelan Fresh Marketing of Chelan, WA alluded to how clean a crop this year was shaping up to be. The company expects to have about 10% more cherries this season. It pointed out the region grows more than 60 varieties of cherries, everything from bing, skeena, sweetheart, rainier, coral champagne and Black Pearl.
Peak shipments will be the week of June 23, and the week of July 14. However, ample supplies are seen from mid-June through at least mid-August.
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