The 2023 sweet cherry harvest in the Pacific Northwest proved to be a significant loss for many growers, prompting reflection on the true extent of the disaster. Industry organizations attribute the difficulties to unusual spring weather conditions, causing overlapping blossoms and a narrow harvest window.
About 70% of US cherries ripened in one month instead of the usual three, creating an oversupply that exceeded supply chain and market capacity. Growers submitted disaster designation requests, seeking federal financial assistance, but have not received formal responses at this time.
Although the 2023 cherry season doesn't precisely fit natural disaster criteria, advocates attribute the challenges to climate conditions. Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers' Executive Director, Mike Doke, emphasized that only about 60% of the crop was actually harvested due to climate-related difficulties. Some growers, like Norm Gutzwiler of the Washington State Fruit Commission, even abandoned the entire harvest, citing a rainstorm without water that led to crop loss.
The overproduction of Californian cherries affected prices, plummeting drastically in June, triggering a downward spiral for Northwest cherries as well. The need for increased communication between Californian shippers and the Northwest industry was highlighted as a potential solution to avoid further price collapses. Growers like Stacey Cooper agree on the need to find common ground to sell a large harvest and collectively address market challenges.
The refusal to harvest some blocks in the Yakima Valley, particularly withdrawn mid-season varieties, resulted in undesirable and unsellable fruit. Some companies advised growers to halt harvesting to avoid further economic losses. Norm Gutzwiler emphasizes that when prices don't cover harvesting costs, foregoing the harvest becomes the only practical option.
Looking ahead, there is concern for growers who may struggle to repay and renew operational credit lines, limiting the ability to grow properly and produce high-quality crops.
Read the full article: Good Fruit Grower
19 Jun 2024
"Growers are describing the 2024 Northwest crop as a perfectly average crop of excellent quality cherries," said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Northwest Cherry Growers. Along with the warm weather, volumes are also increasing.
06 Aug 2026
A Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences study examines how harvest timing, growing area, greenhouse orientation and plastic films affect sugars, vitamin C, firmness, nutritional value and market quality in sweet cherries grown in northeastern China under cover.
21 Aug 2026
A genomic study identifies 17 HSP70 and HSP90 genes in sweet cherry and explains how they respond to heat and salinity. The results highlight key genes, including PavHSP90-5, that could support breeding of cultivars with resilience to climatic and environmental stress.
21 Aug 2026
A study in southern Chile shows how mineral nutrition, especially the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus, may influence internal browning in Regina sweet cherries, postharvest quality and the fruit’s ability to withstand long storage periods for export markets.
