The Northwest cherry season is in full swing. As of 26 June the region had shipped over 7.6m 9kg cartons.
According to Northwest Cherry Growers, yields have followed pre-season predictions relatively accurately.
The Bing crop of 2016/17 took a significant hit, but this year weather seems to have been kinder to the cherries, according to the association. It reported an increase in positive written feedback following the arrival of this year’s Bing crop, indicating good quality.
Opportunities for marketing late summer crop are projected by Northwest Cherry Growers, which estimates that the month of August will see a good crop with shipments of nearly 2m cartons.
“Last chance and countown style promotions have shown in study after study to be the single most effective late season cherry promotions,” stated Northwest Cherry Growers.
“Nielsen Perishables Group found that a top tetailer (in terms of cherry best practices) with 100 stores made an average of $1.2m in additional cherry sales over the last four weeks of their season,” it reported.
The current season’s total estimate still sits at 23m cartons.
