Thurlby: 2019 Cherry Season Turned Out To Be A Good One

The local cherry season is days away from putting the finished touches on the 2019 season.  And B.J. Thurlby, President of Northwest Cherry Growers, says despite challenges and struggles to start the year, 2019 turned out to be better than most.

“I don’t think we could have asked for better growing conditions, and despite the fact that we didn’t have China, despite the fact that we thought we were going to have a compressed crop, we, as an industry pulled this thig together, and ended up having what I think was a pretty good year.”

At the start of the season, Northwest Cherry Growers predicted 23.6 million boxes.  At this point, 23.62 million boxes have been harvested.  Thurlby noted a few of the highest locations are still picking and fruit continues to be shipped with September is days away.

Currently, roughly 3,000 to 4,000 boxes are being shipped daily.

For more on Thurlby’s thoughts on the 2019 growing season, join us Thursday morning on Northwest Ag Today for Focus on Fruit.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com