The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), has recommended that USDA restrict 29 percent of the 2016/17 tart cherry crop. Actual U.S. production for the year was 341.3 million pounds, 10 million pounds less than the June estimate. Of the total production, 314.9 million pounds was received and processed by handlers and 26.4 million was diverted in the orchards.
Of the processed production, 309.7 million pounds was from restricted districts and 5.2 million pounds was from unrestricted districts. When the board compared the supply of cherries for the year to the demand, the excess or “surplus” was calculated to be 91 million pounds, according to CIAB.
Handlers have various options to deal with the restrictions. Grower diversions will reduce the restricted cherries by 26 million pounds. At-plant diversions will reduce the restricted pounds by another 11 million pounds. Exports, using restricted cherries to compete with imports and other types of diversions will reduce the volume of restricted cherries as well.
Primary reserves have 47 million pounds of available capacity for this year’s restricted cherries, according to CIAB.
Source: fruitgrowersnews.com
