Northwest cherries: increasing volumes in Washington

19 Jun 2024
3017

The harvest of sweet cherries grown in the Northwest has begun, which means a new crop of this superfruit will start appearing in produce sections nationwide. Available fresh for a limited time, this juicy summer fruit offers extensive health benefits both internally and externally.

From reducing inflammation and stress to improving sleep quality and skin brightness, sweet cherries are a nutritional powerhouse easy to incorporate into the daily diet of consumers of all ages.

"Growers are calling the 2024 harvest in the Northwest an average crop of excellent quality cherries," said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers. "We see cherries well distributed throughout the tree canopy, with fewer large clusters compared to 2023. Combined with warm weather, volumes are increasing. Historically, this type of fruit set has resulted in large, beautiful cherries and excellent storage quality."

Northwest sweet cherries are more than just a treat. Sweet cherries are a natural source of antioxidants, including anthocyanins that give the fruit its vibrant red color and provide anti-inflammatory benefits linked to anti-cancer properties, cardiovascular health, pain reduction, and more.

Sweet cherries, which contain vitamin C, support the immune system and keep skin bright. Studies have also shown that sweet cherries are a source of potassium, which can help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Northwest cherries are harvested by over 2,500 growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana, who together produce over 70% of the fresh cherries found in stores from mid-June to early September.

Read the full article: PR Newswire
Image: Fruitnet


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

How to increase fruit size? By silencing growth-limiting genes

Breeding

29 Nov 2023

In fruits in which PavKLUH was silenced, a decrease in fruit size was observed, due to less expansion of the mesocarp cells. By identifying a new gene encoding for PavKLUH, PavRAV2, a transcription factor capable of physically interacting with the PavKLUH promoter, was selected.

Mercadona bets on 8,500 tons of Aragon cherries for the 2025 season

Markets

29 May 2025

Mercadona will purchase 8,500 tons of cherries from Aragon during the 2025 season, representing 77% of the national total. The campaign supports the local economy, creates 3,000 jobs, and promotes a sweet, nutritious Spanish fruit from suppliers like SAT Vidrio and Summer Fruit.

In evidenza

The Chilean cherry season has started early, but with a 50 per cent drop in the earliest-ripening areas

Processed

02 Oct 2026

In Coquimbo, Chile, the cherry harvest could begin between October 10 and 15, one of the earliest dates ever recorded in the region. Production is expected to fall by 50%, while larger fruit, higher sugar levels and access to new markets could support growers this season.

How real-time tracking maintains and protects the quality of cherries

Post-harvest​

02 Oct 2026

In New Zealand, real-time monitoring with IoT sensors helps cherry growers track temperature and humidity during transport, prevent spoilage, reduce food waste and preserve quality and freshness from the orchard to the market throughout the entire cold-chain journey.

Tag Popolari