When researching rain-induced cracking of sweet cherries, it’s obvious that rain is a requirement. Two years of research, though yielding little rain-induced cracking, have shown potential for reduced cracking from some materials, as well as a varietal difference in the timing of susceptibility to cracking. The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is funding internal research to develop management strategies to mitigate rain-induced cherry cracking. During the last two years, field-testing of five new and improved materials was conducted in 25 sites in the state, along with tests in the laboratory. “Unfortunately, we have been chasing the rain a little bit […]