Cool Spring Makes Cherry Harvest Later, Bigger

YAKIMA, Wash. — Northwest cherry growers expect a larger, but later, crop this year thanks to cool spring weather that's put the harvest at least 10 days behind schedule.

Growers from the five Northwest states that produce fresh cherries estimated Wednesday the fresh crop at 16.4 million boxes, a more than 16 percent increase over 2010's 14.1 million boxes.

The late start means the industry won't have much product available to grocers for the key July 4 holiday, when cherries are a feature item.

B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission and Northwest Cherry Growers, said the industry projects about 3 million boxes will be packed and shipped in June this year, about half the normal volume.

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