With the season drawing practically to a close, the Northwest Cherry Growers are reporting a preliminary shipped crop total of 20.52 million boxes (20-pound equivalent). That’s less than 00.25% variance from the NWCG round 3 crop estimate published on May 29th, though lower in May and higher in June volume than the curve projection anticipated. Not only was it the earliest crop in at least 20 years, but it was also bigger than all but two of them (2012, 2014) and over in 81 days.
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.
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