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
05 Mar 2025
The size of the global cherry market was estimated at USD 62.50 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2024 to 2030. One of the major reasons for the market growth is the increasing health awareness among consumers.
07 Apr 2025
Fruits and by-products of the world's main cultivated sour cherry variety lead the 2025 food trends: versatile, rich in nutrients and natural melatonin, they support muscle recovery and enhance every dish. A sustainable superfood conquering the food world.
09 Jun 2026
Tart cherry juice clarification with PES membranes and pectinase-based enzymatic pretreatment improves clarity and stability, limits fouling and protects polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidants, offering useful guidance for more sustainable and efficient processing methods.
09 Jun 2026
In Chile’s cherry orchards, the University of O’Higgins combines AI, LoRaWAN sensors, computer vision, hyperspectral imaging and 3D models to estimate yield, fruit size, ripening and microclimates, improving quality, harvest planning and agronomic decisions.
