Should there be quality standards for red cherries?

The 2006 Pacific Northwest cherry season was mixed, with some areas hit by rain and high temperatures that resulted in poor quality. Cherry packers shipped a record 14.7 million boxes (20-pound equivalent), outpacing the previous season by 3 million boxes, according to the Washington State Fruit Commission. Discussions are beginning on whether minimum quality standards should be introduced for sweet cherries. Minimum soluble solids and size standards were established for Rainier cherries in 1994, and more recently for other light-colored varieties. Some producers have suggested that 12-row cherries drag down prices and should be eliminated. We asked several growers if […]