HDR1012000140020627961500Cherry Production                                      
                                                                                
Released June 27, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service         
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Cherry Production" call Barbara Rater at (202) 720-7688,        
office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general            
agricultural statistics, information about NASS, its products or services,      
contact the NASS Information Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail:               
NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Tart Cherry Production Down 35 Percent                             
                                                                                
U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 248 million pounds, down 35 percent  
from 1995 and down 15 percent from 1994.  If realized, this would be the        
lowest production since 1991 when 189.9 million pounds were produced.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Michigan, the largest producing state, expects a crop of 180 million pounds,    
down 42 percent from last year's near-record crop and 14 percent below the      
1994 crop.  Unseasonably cool weather  during spring got the crop off to a      
slow start.  A prolonged bloom hindered proper fruit development.  Poor         
pollination weather and a shortage of bees will limit potential statewide.      
Growers reported frost damage in the Southwest and West Central areas.  In the  
Northwest,  the crop escaped severe frost damage and is in good condition.      
Harvest will begin around mid-July, about one week behind schedule.             
                                                                                
Production in New York is forecast at 25 million pounds, 22 percent less than   
last year. The crop is light as a result of poor pollination weather and a      
reduction in acreage.  An increase in production was shown for Utah, while all  
other States registered decreases.                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
   Tart Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States,                 
                    1994-95 and Forecasted 1996                                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                    Total Production                     
       State          :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :       1994       :       1995       :       1996        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                     Million Pounds                      
                      :                                                         
  CO                  :         1.5                1.2                1.0       
  MI                  :       210.0              310.0              180.0       
  NY                  :        26.0               32.0               25.0       
  OR                  :         8.0                1.6                1.5       
  PA                  :         9.0                9.5                8.5       
  UT                  :        26.5               22.0               25.0       
  WI                  :         9.2                7.7                6.9       
                      :                                                         
  Total               :       290.2              384.0              247.9       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Fr Nt 2-4 (6-96)                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Sweet Cherry Production Down 19 Percent                            
                                                                                
U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 133,200 tons, down 19 percent from  
1995 and down 36 percent from 1994.   Increased production in California could  
not offset lower production in the other states.  If realized, this would be    
the lowest production since 1985 when 132,500 tons were produced.               
                                                                                
The Michigan crop, at 22,000 tons, is 19 percent less than last year.  Poor     
pollination conditions hurt crop prospects and a May frost damaged fruit buds.  
Spraying schedules were interrupted by continual rains.  Harvest is expected    
to begin one-to-two weeks behind normal.                                        
                                                                                
Oregon and Washington growers expect light crops in 1996.  A cold snap in       
February followed by cool, wet weather during pollination limited these         
Western States' crop potential.   Poor pollination conditions and reports of    
frost damage made for reduced prospects in New York and Pennsylvania.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
   Sweet Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States,                
                    1994-95 and Forecasted 1996                                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                    Total Production                     
       State          :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :       1994       :       1995       :       1996        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                          Tons                           
                      :                                                         
  CA 1/               :      52,000             19,800             25,000       
  ID                  :       1,400                700              1,800       
  MI                  :      25,000             27,000             22,000       
  MT                  :         750                650                900       
  NY                  :         900              1,100                700       
  OR                  :      42,000             38,000             30,000       
  PA                  :         950              1,000                800       
  UT                  :       2,300              2,000              2,000       
  WA                  :      82,000             75,000             50,000       
                      :                                                         
  Total               :     207,300            165,250            133,200       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Cherry Production" report will be released in June 1997.              
                                                                                
                                                                                
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