Early start brings early end for Northwest cherry season
June saw a record 12.6 million boxes, which included accelerated volume by growers working to stay ahead of the heat waves. The Northwest has seen high temperatures over the past few years, but the record-shattering heat was an entirely different event. Statistically speaking, a 1-in-400 years event. Early season weather challenges also reduced the northwest crop, including an estimated 300,000 boxes of Rainier cherries.
July was the smaller of the two months this season - something we haven’t seen since 2005 (7m June, 4.5m July) - but still delivered 7.4 million boxes. May shipped just over 380,000 boxes and August saw just over 70,000 boxes. An August total that low hasn’t been recorded since the 2000 season. Exports were strong this year, coming in just over 30% of the shipped crop.
Click here to download or read the NWCG Weekly Crop Update #8 report in its entirety (5.6 mb).
Visit www.nwcherries.com for more information.