Growers are expected to harvest more Northwest sweet cherries in 2023 than they did last year, according to a first-round estimate from Northwest Cherry Growers.
According to the estimate, based on grower reports, the five-state region — Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah — could potentially harvest 19.9 million 20-pound boxes this year.
That’s a 50% increase from the 2022 crop of 13.3 million boxes, which was the region’s smallest since 2008.
Last year, several adverse weather events created harvest delays and reduced crop volume. Some cherries didn’t develop due to a lack of pollination during the cold spring months, and others were damaged through rain or other weather conditions. That led to fewer — and more expensive — cherries in grocery produce sections.
Cooler weather did delay development this year — in some areas, upward of three weeks compared to the 2022 schedule. However, warming temperatures throughout the Northwest contributed to full bloom in most orchards.
Early harvest is expected to start around mid-June and continue through July and early August, with plenty of available fruit around the Fourth of July holiday, according to industry officials.