The Potential for Cherries

The Potential for Cherries

The Potential for Cherries. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

Shhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone but there is a really good chance this year might be a big one for the cherry industry. Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: The 2014 cherry crop is off to a good start as bloom came early to many areas. The weather has also been cooperating for the most part with only a few cold nights. Last year's crop was on the disappointing side at 14.3 million boxes but had started out with a great deal of promise with an estimated 20 million boxes. Summer rain during fruit maturation cut the potential back. Growers are keeping a cautious eye on the weather this year but there are indications that a potential crop of 20 to 25 million boxes could come off the trees.

Thanks Lacy. While it is early in the season it will be interesting to see how the next few weeks play out throughout the growing region. During a recent meeting the Fruit Commission approved keeping the grower-paid assessment at current rates of $18 per ton for fresh cherries, $5 per ton for processed cherries, $12 per ton for fresh market soft fruit, and $1 per ton for graded, processed soft fruit. Now the main issue is making sure that Mother Nature remains cooperative.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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