The Washington cherry harvest is progressing well and is expected to start on schedule around June 1st. Coming off a very difficult 2023 season, growers and shippers are hoping for a better market this year. “Cherries are such a vibrant product and a sign of hope for us, so we’re looking forward to the new season,” says Dan Davis of Washington Fruit Growers.
At the moment, the situation is positive. Growing conditions have been good, apart from an early frost that affected the northern growing regions of Washington. As a result, the northern part of the state is expected to see a reduction in volumes, just like the neighboring province of British Columbia.
“All in all, our growers have fared quite well through the frost. As for the total volume, there are some concerns for some early season varieties,” commented Davis. “Nonetheless, we are expecting a fairly good crop this season.” While the early season crop may be lighter, good fruit size is expected for all varieties and growing regions in the state this year.
Last year, the growing regions of California and Washington overlapped significantly, causing a drop in prices and a tough season for Washington growers. “This year, we have heard that there will be another overlap,” said Davis.
However, growers and shippers are hoping for a shorter overlap. Additionally, this year, cherries from California’s later growing districts are expected to be smaller in size. “If this is the case, it will facilitate a smoother transition to Washington, as we will have abundant volume and good-sized fruit to meet retailer demand,” said Davis.
Washington cherries will reach their peak for about four to six weeks, from the second week of June to the third week of July. “We are working with retailers to encourage them to promote cherries during the peak availability, especially in the two weeks around July 4th.”
When Washington’s cherry production ends, cherry availability in North America is expected to be very limited. Typically, British Columbia follows Washington and is in season until late August, early September.
However, the province was hit by a devastating frost in January and another frost in April. The BC Cherry Association has described it as a climate event that will have a greater impact on the crop than any other weather event the industry has ever experienced before.
Read the full article: FreshPlaza
Image: WSU
24 Sep 2026
In Germany, Alten Land cherries are left on trees as rising costs, imports and climate pressure strain the fresh produce chain. Retailers face a key challenge: balancing prices, regional sourcing, supply security and long-term resilience across fruit and vegetable supply.
08 Apr 2025
In Spain’s Jerte Valley, over two million cherry trees are now in bloom: the first cherries will be harvested in 35 to 40 days. The D.O.P. adds new certified varieties like Van, Lapins, and Burlat, extending the season until August and focusing on high-quality production.
30 Sep 2026
A study from Hannover sheds new light on sweet cherry cracking: malic acid in cherry juice can trigger rapid skin splitting even with limited water uptake, linking the bursting of epidermal cells to the development of visible cracks across the fruit skin in orchards.
30 Sep 2026
A new UK project will use bioacoustic sensors, AI and field trials to measure pollinator activity, improve fruit set, yield and quality, and support more resilient production of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries across commercial farms.
