HDR1012000140020629951500Cherries Production                                    
HDR2012000140020629951500Cherries Production Narrative and Tables               
                                                                                
Released June 29, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board.                   
                                                                                
                  Tart Cherry Production Highest in Many Years                  
                                                                                
U.S. tart cherry production for 1995 is forecast at 391 million pounds.  This   
level is the highest since 1964 when 547 million pounds were grown and surpasses
the modern day high of 359 million pounds produced in 1987 by 9 percent.  The   
1995 output exceeds the 1994 level of 288 million pounds by 36 percent.         
                                                                                
Michigan, the largest producing state, expects a 320 million pound crop,        
52 percent greater than the previous year.  That total is the second largest    
ever and the record high is 380 million pounds produced in 1964.  The season    
began slowly due to cool spring temperatures but without any frost damage.  The 
favorable weather resulted in excellent fruit set in almost all orchards.       
Moisture was adequate and record high June temperatures pushed crop development.
Harvest should start in the Southwest by early July.                            
                                                                                
Oregon and Utah crops were hurt by cool, wet weather at pollination time.  Late 
season rains in Oregon caused splitting to further reduce their crop.  The      
remaining tart cherry producing states reported no major problems and generally 
favorable crops.  Growers in many states expressed concern over low prices and  
how much to pick or where to sell their fruit.                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Tart Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States          
                           1993-94 and Forecasted 1995                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                :                      Total Production                         
   State        :-------------------------------------------------------------- 
                :        1993        :        1994        :        1995         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                :                        Million Pounds                         
                :                                                               
CO              :          1.6                  1.5                  1.2        
MI              :        270.0                210.0                320.0        
NY              :         15.7                 26.0                 30.0        
OR              :          3.0                  8.0                  4.0        
PA              :         11.5                  9.0                 10.0        
UT              :         15.0                 26.5                 20.0        
WI              :          6.6                  6.8                  5.8        
                :                                                               
Total           :        323.4                287.8                391.0        
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For information call Barbara Soltes at (202) 720-7688.  Office hours are        
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Fr Nt 2-4 (6-95)                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                      Sweet Cherry Production Down Sharply                      
                                                                                
U.S. sweet cherry production is off 35 percent from a year ago,at 135,700 tons. 
This level is the lowest since 1985.  West Coast states are off a combined      
42 percent from 1994.  The California forecast of 15,000 tons was carried       
forward from early June. California was hurt severely by early season rains and 
cool temperatures at pollination time and then again by rain in mid-May causing 
heavy splitting.  Oregon growers also experienced poor pollination and set due  
to a cool, wet spring.  It appears the Dalles/Hood River area in Oregon may     
harvest a smaller crop than initially expected.  Both the Hood River area and   
Willamette Valley received rain in mid-June which caused splitting.  Washington 
cherries were set back by wet and cool weather causing poor pollination.  The   
Wenatchee area is expected to be hurt the most but supplies are light also from 
the Yakima district.  Rains and cool weather in that area have slowed harvest.  
Trading for the light crop is active.                                           
                                                                                
The Mountain states were hurt by cold, wet weather during the bloom.  Several   
hard freezes also cut into production.  New York is the only state expecting a  
larger crop this year.  Conditions in that state are considered excellent for   
sweet cherries. Final crop size, however, is dependant upon getting rain, soon. 
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Sweet Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States,         
                           1993-94 and Forecasted 1995                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
              :                        Total Production                         
   State      :---------------------------------------------------------------- 
              :          1993        :        1994        :        1995         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
              :                               Tons                              
              :                                                                 
CA 1/         :         19,000               52,000               15,000        
ID            :          1,500                1,300                  500        
MI            :         30,000               25,000               29,000        
MT            :            900                  750                  600        
NY            :            700                  900                1,000        
OR            :         34,000               42,000               27,000        
PA            :          1,200                  950                  900        
UT            :          1,250                2,300                1,700        
WA            :         80,000               82,000               60,000        
              :                                                                 
Total         :        168,550              207,200              135,700        
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1/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Cherry Production" report will be released in June 1996.              
                                                                                
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