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 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 

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 

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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 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

1/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast. 

 

The next "Cherry Production" report will be released in June 1996. 

 ********************** 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in 

its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, 

disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 

information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the 

USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).

 

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,

20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal

employment opportunity employer. 

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