West Coast cherry producers found common ground during an initial meeting to see if growers from the Pacific Northwest and California could collaborate on specific issues and work closer together. The meeting, held in March in Portland, Oregon, brought together about a dozen sweet cherry growers and shippers from California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as staff from groups promoting California and Northwest cherries. The meeting was moderated by James Christie and Mike Rucier from the consulting firm Bryant Christie, Inc. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had suggested that a strategic planning meeting be held among the nation’s sweet cherry […]