HDR1012000140020701971500Cherry Production                                      
                                                                                
Cherry                                                                          
Production                                                                      
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released July 1, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),  
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For             
information on "Cherry Production" call Howard Hill at (202) 720-7235, office   
hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
               Tart Cherry Production Down 10 Percent                           
                                                                                
U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 242.2 million pounds,  down          
10 percent from 1996 and down 39 percent from 1995.  This level is the lowest   
since 1991 when 189.9 million pounds were produced.                             
                                                                                
Michigan, the largest producing state, expects a crop of 180 million pounds, a  
decline of 8 percent from last year and 42 percent below the 1995 crop.  The    
season progressed slowly due to unseasonably cool weather during the spring.    
A prolonged bloom in the Southwest caused above normal disparity in maturity,   
therefore lowering yield potential.  The expected yield in the Northwest is     
average.  The crop looks very good in the West Central region, and harvest      
will begin about July 20.                                                       
                                                                                
Production in New York is forecast at 14.5 million pounds, down 24 percent      
from 1996, and down 55 percent from two years ago.  Some areas along  Lake      
Ontario suffered frost damage.   New York experienced below average             
temperatures statewide, which hampered fruit development.  Utah and Washington  
both forecast 14 million pounds.  Both states expect a decline from last year.  
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Tart Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States,          
                           1995-96 and Forecasted 1997                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                          Total Production                          
   State   :--------------------------------------------------------------------
           :         1995         :         1996         :         1997         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                           Million Pounds                           
           :                                                                    
CO         :          1.2                    1.0                     .7         
MI         :        310.0                  195.0                  180.0         
NY         :         32.0                   19.0                   14.5         
OR         :          1.6                    2.5                    3.2         
PA         :          9.5                    7.5                    5.0         
UT         :         22.0                   25.0                   14.0         
WA         :         11.6                   14.2                   14.0         
WI         :          7.7                    6.1                   10.8         
           :                                                                    
Total      :        395.6                  270.3                  242.2         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
Fr Nt 2-4 (7-97)                                                                
               Sweet Cherry Production Up 24 Percent                            
                                                                                
U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 191,250 tons, up 24 percent from    
1996 and 16 percent above 1995.  The three largest states, California, Oregon,  
and Washington expect an increase in production from last year.                 
                                                                                
The Washington crop, at 85,000 tons, is 23 percent more than last year.  All    
major areas forecasted an increase from last year, and a good quality crop is   
expected.  Weather was favorable for growing conditions in Washington and       
Oregon.  Production in Oregon is forecast at 43,000 tons, up 34 percent from    
last year.                                                                      
                                                                                
The sweet cherry crop in California is forecast at 35,000 tons, up 42 percent   
from 1996.  Good weather throughout the growing season resulted in better       
yields.                                                                         
                                                                                
The Michigan sweet cherry crop is forecast at 24,000 tons, up 9 percent from    
1996, but down 11 percent from 1995.  Bloom population was adequate,  but cold  
weather hampered pollination. Cooler than normal temperatures also affected     
crop development in New York and Pennsylvania.  Both states expect slight       
declines from a year ago.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Sweet Cherries:  Total Production by State and United States,         
                           1995-96 and Forecasted 1997                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                        Total Production 1/                         
   State   :--------------------------------------------------------------------
           :         1995         :         1996         :         1997         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                                Tons                                
           :                                                                    
CA         :        19,800                 24,600                 35,000        
ID         :           700                  2,200                  1,300        
MI         :        27,000                 22,000                 24,000        
MT         :           900                    700                  1,000        
NY         :         1,100                    700                    650        
OR         :        38,000                 32,000                 43,000        
PA         :         1,000                    800                    700        
UT         :         2,000                  2,300                    600        
WA         :        75,000                 69,000                 85,000        
           :                                                                    
Total      :       165,500                154,300                191,250        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Cherry Production" report will be in 1998.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
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