Washington growers are struggling with freezing early morning temperatures, with this season’s cherry crop facing subsequent yield reductions.
'Early cherry districts are cut down some and in some cases a lot,” Jon Alegria, president of CPC International Apple, told Capital Press. “There's definitely a reduction in the early cherry deal but no one knows how much.”
The president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, BJ Thurlby, concurred that the crop for 2013 will definitely be less than last year’s colossal 22.9m carton season.
The administrator of the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission in Hood River, Dana Branson, has reportedly estimated overall cherry loss so far at 5 to 10 per cent in Hood River and The Dalles.
US cherries from Washington and California are a major export to Asian markets including China, Korea and Taiwan.
While the consensus among growers and officials is a crop reduction, official estimates will not be out until 10 May.
The region’s apple crop is also likely to be affected, although Alegria has similarly emphasised that the extent of any damage is unknown at this stage.
Growers have been working to combat the unfavourable weather conditions and minimise damage to their crops with wind machines and water.
