Northwest Cherries is out with the first round estimate for the 2020 crop. The estimate, compiled by growers from across the region, puts this year's crop at 205,032 tons, or 20.5 million boxes. If that holds true, it would make this year's harvest smaller than the 2019 crop by roughly 30,000 tons and the smallest harvested crop 2016. However, Northwest Cherries pointed out that the Round One estimate has the most potential for variance from the eventual and actual size of the crop.


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Northwest Cherries added a generally warm January and February gave local crops one of the earliest starts on record.  However, since then, relatively cool weather has tempered progress.  This was especially true during pollination.  It will take a few more weeks to determine how much of this year's crop will remain on the tree.  These "drops" are natural and taken into account in our subsequent estimates. 

Using only the data available, producers said it's still a bit too early to project a potential daily curve for the Northwest cherry industry.  However, the belief is it's possible to estimate how the crop volume will lay out across the summer months. And consumers could see May cherries for the first time since 2016.


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The generally warm months of late winter and early spring got the ball rolling in our early districts while the more northern and higher elevation districts were still seeing lower temperatures.  So while Northwest Cherries expects a strong start to our crop in the last few days of May, they also expect one of our largest spreads between early and late districts. 

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

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