Several times I've heard, 'Five years ago, we would never have this conversation. Now the individual members are getting to know each other and understand the collective power that occurs when they can work together. CherrCo's 28 members each hold a seat on the board, and those directors meet quarterly in addition to serving on committees that include marketing, quality, grower relations and strategic planning. It allows us to involve all our members in discussions and decisions. Yet, despite the developments and progress that have been made through organizations such as CherrCo and the new federal marketing order, the industry continues to be challenged bv a number of ongoing fronts.
Work is needed to expand exports.
More could be done to fine-tune supply management mechanisms. And both could help to stabilize prices even further for growers as well as their customers. Talking through these challenges has become critical in this specialty fruit industry whose grower numbers are easily dwarfed by other segments of U.S. agriculture. A commitment to continued, industry-wide communication by organizations such as CherrCo was the motivation behind a major conference this past spring. During their time together, industry leaders looked at the various problems or major gaps in the tart cherry industry, and how various programs and parts of the industry could work together more effectively to provide continued progress.