Sweet cherry production was up slightly for 2016, and harvests, like in Washington, were early due to warmer weather. “We had some rain early- to mid-season and some heat late,” comments Jon Bailey, who manages shipments from Orchard View, Inc., in The Dalles for the Oppenheimer Group.
Like others in the business, Orchard View installed a high-tech 48-line sorter, which Bailey says made a big difference in 2016. “Because of the optical capabilities, we were able to still run all of our fruit, where previously we would have had to leave a lot on the tree,” he explains. “It enabled us to run some fruit that most likely we would not have packed with human-only sorting.”
Export Ups & Downs
In addition to their most favored stone fruit status in the United States, cherries continue to enjoy an international following, especially in high-value Asian and European markets. Export volume reached nearly 160 million pounds, from January to September 2016, according to U.S. trade data. Although volume was down slightly, due to rain affecting the California crop, these shipments still amounted to about 25 percent of the total supply from California, Wash-ington, Oregon, and Michigan.
Canada and South Korea are leading export markets; China and Hong Kong are top importers accounting for more than 20 percent of U.S. fresh cherry exports. “The addition of more charter flights to China for cherries helped expand export opportunities,” confirms Eric Borton.
Exports increased to Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia in 2016, while the high-value Japanese market also maintained its volume. Population growth in Thailand and Vietnam are ripe for future shipments. “We will continue to ship as much fruit to these markets as possible,” states Marc Pflugrath, director of export sales at CMI Orchards in Wenatchee, “as they are usually willing to pay top dollar for large size, high-quality cherries.”
Projections & Problems
Cherry growers along the Pacific Coast always hope for the right mix of moisture and temperature. After the early harvests of 2016, along with late-season rains in California and wet spots in Washington and Oregon, growers are hoping for cooler, drier conditions.
Although weather at bloom and harvest largely determine crop potential, positive signs were spotted earlier in the year—it was both wet and cold, “Perfect for what we need,” says Reiman.
No matter how the weather turns and the trade winds blow, U.S. sweet cherry growers are well-positioned to harvest consistent volumes of high-quality crops. “The cherry future is bright; we will continue to produce 20 million-plus box crops, giving consumers around the world access to great fruit,” predicts Domex Superfresh’s Preacher.
Image: Julia Kuznetsova/Shutterstock.com
