In Washington, a cherry grower emphasises the importance of crop insurance for his company and for the entire cherry industry. He defines the life of a grower as betting your entire investment on production, comparing the process to gambling in Las Vegas. The main challenge is the uncertainty of success or failure until the closing payments from the pool, which can take almost a year from the start of the cherry investment.
Jennifer Wiggs, the grower, points out that, although most years bring at least a break-even, there are occasionally exceptional years that make it possible to finance the following year or invest in improvements. However, there is also the risk of losing everything due to adverse weather events. Cherries, in particular, are sensitive to weather conditions before harvest, requiring constant monitoring of weather forecasts.
She advises his colleagues to consider crop insurance as a lifesaver. Shee recounts his own initial experience of scepticism towards insurance, but reveals that it became compulsory when they acquired a larger orchard with an agricultural loan. The turning point came when, hit by rainstorms, they suffered significant losses. The agent explained the value of insurance, allowing the farmer to face the challenges with peace of mind.
The earnings guarantee system is based on the actual earnings history of the cultivated blocks. The grower emphasises the adaptability of the policies, which are self-adjusting considering ups and downs. The coverage percentage chosen affects premiums, but offers financial security. The insurance also facilitates access to US Department of Agriculture disaster relief programmes by simplifying the application process.
In conclusion, Jennifer Wiggs encourages his colleagues to explore options with specialised cherry agents, to review coverage choices annually and to consider insurance as a way to sleep soundly.
Read the full article: Good Fruit Grower
Images: Jennifer Wiggs/Good Fruit Grower
Markets Production Press review
22 Jan 2024
It is important to note that ours is a mature industry,' says Claudia Soler, 'and Chile is the world's largest cherry exporter and leads the southern hemisphere's exports: more than 96% of the supply with over 400,000 tonnes of shipments in 2022-2023.
27 Jan 2025
“We got off to a great start in June and our early fruit was of excellent quality and helped drive promotions that led to consistent purchasing (through July and early August)", said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers, in his recap of the 2024 season.
12 Jan 2026
Meda Swan (IVU 514®) is a new early two-coloured cherry variety, selected in California, tested and distributed in Chile. It ripens 10 days earlier than Rainier, has excellent Brix levels and good post-harvest keeping quality and tolerance to storage defects.
12 Jan 2026
DNA analysis conducted in China revealed that cherries exported from Chile under the Rose Rainier label were genetically identical to the patented Tip Top variety (Skylar Rae®). ANA Chile® and Tip Top Orchards LLC. announced legal action to protect varietal rights.
