On March 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published proposed changes to Washington cherry handling regulations that would eliminate 12-row cherries and add 7.5- and 7-row sizes.
The Washington Cherry Marketing Committee voted to eliminate 12-row cherries in 2024, and in 2025 the group voted to further modify the handling regulations by adding the new premium sizes.
In recent years, 12-row fruit accounted for less than 1.5 percent of the total crop, according to Northwest Cherries data. Committee members who pushed to strike 12-row said that eliminating the rarely marketable size class will allow growers to make crop insurance claims on that fruit. With 12-row technically marketable, according to the regulations, but no warehouses willing to pack it, growers can’t claim that fruit as a loss.
Opponents of the change argued that in some seasons, some growers and shippers can make money on small fruit — even if only for a few days before large volumes of larger fruit hit the market.
The committee has considered the topic for more than a decade.
In 2024, the committee voted nine to three, with one abstention, to push the change in regulations to the USDA. Support for adding the 7- and 7.5-row sizes in 2025 was unanimous.
The proposed rule change will be open for public comment until April 8 at: federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/09/2026-04571/sweet-cherries-grown-in-designated-counties-in-washington-modification-of-handling-regulations#open-comment. •
