The shipments of cherries from the Pacific Northwest continue steadily. "So far, the Northwest cherry industry has shipped an average of 500,000 boxes per day," says Cat Gipe-Stewart, Marketing Director at Superfresh Growers®.
While some growers-shippers in the region have already finished their seasons, Superfresh Growers will see a longer season this year. "We continue to be in the best shape possible. Despite the warmer weather in recent days, cooler nighttime temperatures in our high-altitude orchards will allow us to continue supplying retailers until August," says Gipe-Stewart.
In fact, the 2024 harvest was expected to be 20.9 million boxes, with a 12% increase compared to a year ago. The industry continues to pack greater quantities than expected and reached a peak in the week of July 9th, with an overall volume that continues to appear above the five-year average.
As for the varieties, Gipe-Stewart states that late-season Dark Sweet cherries look good and are large and delicious. "We still expect steady volumes for our Dark Sweet cherries, as we anticipate continuing to pack them for most of the month of August," says Gipe-Stewart.
Regarding the timing of the season, although it started in line with the five-year average, the cooler weather at the beginning of the year delayed the start date, aligning it with previous years. "The moderate temperatures have ensured a steady harvest flow across all our orchards, allowing us to extend the harvest into August," says Gipe-Stewart.
For Superfresh Growers, the growing regions are in Oregon and Washington. "During the winter months, some high-altitude orchards were affected by below-zero temperatures that impacted late-season cherries," says Gipe-Stewart. However, thanks to the strategic location of our orchards, we were fortunate to avoid widespread losses and still have plenty of fruit available for the late season."
The demand for cherries is high. "The market is tightening as many suppliers finish their harvests for the year," says Gipe-Stewart. "As every year, in anticipation of the July 4th holiday, retailers stockpiled an abundant supply of cherries, which slowed the State's movement for a few days. However, sales are picking up again, and movement has returned to a steady pace."
At the same time, Superfresh Growers expects that overall cherry consumption will continue to remain steady, with quality and flavor continuing to be key factors influencing consumer purchases. The company also notes that it is expected that its main consumers will remain consistent: homeowners educated in two-person households with an annual income between $100,000 and $150,000.
Read the full article: Fresh Plaza
Image: Fresh Plaza
06 Sep 2024
The Chilean cherry industry continues to position itself in the global market. Early estimates for the 2024-25 season predict around 112 million boxes exported, but this projection brings several challenges that the industry must overcome to fully take advantage of this scenario.
20 May 2024
As for the quantities, this year we will express our full production potential of 3,000 tons, after a particularly poor 2023’ says Enrico Bucchi, General Manager of Valfrutta Fresco 'Last week we started with the first harvests and this week we are already at full capacity'.
22 Aug 2025
Little Cherry Disease (LCD) is damaging cherry orchards across Washington State, with growers reporting severe losses. Tree removals and bitter, undersized fruit are symptoms of this threat—comparable to citrus greening (HLB) in Florida’s citrus industry.
22 Aug 2025
In Puglia, research on organic orchards highlights how compost and organic fertilizers boost yield, improve soil health, and enhance plant resilience. A sustainable approach that supports Mediterranean organic farming while delivering environmental and agronomic benefits.
