Initial projections for the 2012 cherry crop in the Pacific Northwest are higher than last year. Favorable weather leading up to the harvest may put this year's production above 2009's record high.Early production estimates for cherries out of the Northwest are 20.98 million 20-pound boxes. If these early projections are accurate, this year's crop would top 2010's output of 20.46 million boxes, and it would be much higher than last year's production of 18.37 million boxes.
Although harvesting begins in June, almost 60 percent of the crop will be picked in July. The rest of the region's production is will be split between June and August.
Good weather is being hailed as one of the reasons behind higher production.
“We had a nice cold winter and a gradual warm-up,” said Domex Superfresh's Loren Queen last week. “It's been great weather.”
The Northwest cherry region is made up cherry-growing areas in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana.