07/12/05 The cherry crop looks good

Projections for the size of this year's Northwest cherry crop at last estimate by Northwest Cherries came in at over eleven million boxes as of June 22. But cherries have become a very hot commodity in recent years thanks to their seasonal scarcity, quality, and the marketing campaign operated by Northwest Cherries. That high demand, and a smaller than usual California cherry crop, has boded well for our region's cherry industry as far as return to growers so far this season. SEVERN: Well, it's been a good season. Thus far, demand continues to outpace our production capabilities this season. And we've also had great sized fruit coming off the trees. So if you combine the size and the quality of the fruit that we've had coming off the trees with the demand we are seeing out in the marketplace, it's really been a great season for growers I think. David Severn of Northwest Cherries says currently shipments of boxes are about at the same pace as last year, and have benefited from an earlier start to the harvest season. But before consumers believe the cherry season is over & after all, the traditional peak is the Fourth of July & Severn says more cherries are on the way. SEVERN: The season's not done. We still have a big portion of our crop left. A lot of the later elevations growing districts are going to be coming off throughout the next month and we're expecting to have a lot of cherry supplies throughout the month of July and into the middle of August.