The numbers are looking up for cherry producers this year, with the 2024 crop forecast up slightly from last growing season.
Sweet cherry production in the United States is forecast at 355,000 tons this year. USDA’s NASS shows in Washington State, total production is set to hit 185,000 tons, which is down 11 percent from 2023. In Oregon, total production is forecast at 43,000 tons, canceling out the losses in Washington at 11 percent.
Despite the alternating numbers in the Pacific Northwest, industry leaders say the product is looking top-notch.
“We had some difficult winter weather this year that affected some of the later harvested northern and higher elevation. In orchards, our overall cherry quality is fantastic this year, and our timing is pretty close to normal, so that we’ve had an orderly transition from the California crop to the northwest crop and that’s resulting in some good steady shipments, strong demand. And we’re still hopeful for some good profits for growers this year,” said Jon DeVaney.
Lance Honig with NASS says when he looks at the numbers, he is predicting an average to above-average crop size, and that means availability should not be an issue this year.
