Everyone knows size matters in fruit, and this year, cherries really are bigger.
Northwest Cherry Growers has the measurements to prove it.
A sizing chart released last week by the Yakima, Washington-based organization charged with collectively promoting cherries from five Northwest states shows row sizing measurements from the first 16 days of shipments skewing larger — peaking at 9.5 compared to last year’s 10.5.
That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news is that growers don’t have nearly as many cherries at this point compared to last year. As of June 24, the industry had shipped just under 1 million 20-pound box equivalents, compared to a five-year average of over 5 million, according to a periodic crop update from Northwest Cherry Growers.
The group publishes several crop updates as the season progresses, and changes are common with weather and other growing conditions.
—by Ross Courtney
