01/10/06 Cherry Institute 2006

For sixty three years, the cherry industry has gathered at the start of the New Year to look forward at the different directions, trends, and shapes their industry is headed. THURLBY: And what it is is primarily an educational day. It's a day where we share broad industry research. There's going to be a lot of horticultural based talks. There's certainly going to be an edge towards the new technology that we see within the industry. It's kind of been our industry's way to look into the future and doing it as a group. And Northwest Cherries' B.J. Thurlby says the sixty-third annual Cherry Institute is scheduled for all day Friday at the Yakima Convention Center. The event includes seminars covering topics ranging from future market forecasts to new cherry varieties. THURBLY: The number one reason ten years from now our growers are going to be in business and be successful, it's because we are cutting edge, and we grow the best cherries in the world. And this is how we continue to keep that edge. And our growers know that, and they come in and they attend and they take part. This year's there's actually going to be a trade show again. We've got some great industry suppliers that are going to be taking part in the day. Noted speakers include economist Dr. Desmond O'Rourke and Washington State Ag Director Valoria Loveland. THURLBY: She's going to come, just kind of to talk to us about state of the state, what's going on in agriculture, where the trends are, and how can our growers continue to be safe and viable within that environment. Information on pre-registration for the Cherry Institute can be found at www.nwcherries.com.