Sweet cherry production is forecast at 338,485 tons, down 11 percent from 2014, according to a report from the USDA that was released June 24.
Growers in Washington – the largest cherry growing state – as well as Oregon and Idaho reported that freezes in fall resulted in the loss of trees that were not yet dormant. The winter that followed was warm and relatively dry. In spring, rain events and above average temperatures pushed maturity ahead of the normal pace and harvest started three weeks earlier than in an average year.
In Michigan, a hard freeze late May had a detrimental effect. Production is expected to be 47 percent lower than last year.
In California, the second largest cherry state, harvest ended early June. Although production was not as low as last year, growers reported an unusually light crop for the second consecutive year.
See table below for 2014 production and the 2015 forecast.
US sweet cherry production
| State | Total production 2014 (tons) | Forecast production 2015 (tons) |
| California | 40,000 | 68,000 |
| Idaho | 2,800 | 2,600 |
| Michigan | 29,860 | 15,900 |
| Montana | 2,010 | N/A |
| New York | 630 | 900 |
| Oregon | 53,700 | 41,000 |
| Utah | 900 | 85 |
| Washington | 252,000 | 210,000 |
| Total US | 381,900 | 338,485 |
Source: NASS USDA