Poor weather in Washington has caused considerable damage to the Northwest cherry crop, with an already light early crop further reduced by heavy rainfall.
The industry had hoped for higher yields in June to make a strong marketing push for the fourth of July, America’s independence day, when cherries are a popular product. However, the weather has ensured these plans won’t be happening.
“Usually the fourth of July is a major promotional period in the US for the Northwest cherry industry,” John Baker, chief executive of Produce Marketing, told Asiafruit. “But from what we hear all promotions have been cancelled as growers just don’t have the fruit.
“Shippers and supermarket retailers are complaining about the weather being just diabolical as they cannot plan for sales.”
In Australia, cherry importers have significantly cut back or deferred their planned activities until a clearer picture of yield volumes emerges.
“Our original forecast from the Northwest was 19m cartons,” said Baker. “But yields might be down by as much as one third for this early period.”
Reduced yields have also meant an inevitable rise in prices, particularly pronounced with the recent decline of the Australian dollar.
“Last year, cherries were selling for as little as under AU$10 per kilo. At the moment, I’m not seeing any for under AU$18 per kilo.”
CEO and general manager of First Fruits Marketing of Washington, Keith Matthews, told Capital Press that he expected prices to double from their usual level around the fourth of July.
“But twice as much money at one-third the crop still is a loss for growers,” Matthews said.
Growers have endeavoured to protect their fruit by using wind turbines and air sprayers to dry wet cherries and prevent them from splitting, according to the Yakima Herald-Republic.
Matthews emphasised that the situation is likely to pick up as the season progresses.
“As we get into July with later varieties and to the north, we will have the kind of cherries retailers like and will be able to promote, but that will be after the Fourth,” he told Capital Press.
