The region achieved its fourth-highest production on record, with excellent fruit quality that continued until the close of harvest.

According to the Northwest Cherries organization, exports grew more than 4% year-over-year, a remarkable achievement considering the initial conditions.

A challenging start with a happy ending for cherries
At the beginning of the season, heat waves accelerated fruit ripening, generating an early and abundant harvest. However, retail prices were slow to adjust to the sudden increase in supply.

Under normal circumstances, this would have led to a product glut and a sharp drop in prices. But luck was on the side of the growers.

Northwest cherries began arriving on the market in June, and growers feared that their record volume would coincide with the California harvest. However, California’s production was lower than expected—between seven and eight million boxes—allowing Northwest cherries to fill the supply gap just in time.

Ultimately, the organization reported a total of 23.6 million 20-pound (9 kg) boxes exported, 4.6% more than the 22.5 million initially projected.

Canada remained the main destination for Northwest cherries, accounting for 10% of shipments, followed by China, Taiwan, Korea, and Mexico.

Source: Portal Frutícola