<p>Early projections for a tight cherry market have rang true throughout the California harvest this year, due to a season of lower production and high demand.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">As growers and packers gear up for the final push of the season, growers are looking for a smooth transition to Washington where they hope to see significant volume around the first part of June. With the lighter volumes this year, <B>the market has remained tight throughout the season</b>, and growers tell us that the price has been consistent with the year’s historically low volumes, keeping prices at the higher end of the spectrum. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>On-ad retail prices for cherries averaged <B>$4.75 per pound</b> in the week ending May 16, according to the USDA and some growers have told us that they were seeing the average closer to $5-6 per pound for the consumer. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><B>Some growers do not anticipate prices to come down till the middle of Washington’s cherry program.</b> Growers note that they have been pleasantly surprised by consistent consumer/retail demand for product. This demand has increased steadily during the season due to the exceptional quality that they’ve seen this year. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The California cherry season kicked off to lighter than average projections as growers geared up for harvest at the end of April. The warmer weather this winter and spring created a challenge for the amount of chill hours needed for some trees to develop healthy buds.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>As we move into the Washington cherry season, will prices begin to make their way back down on the popular impulse buy? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow the season.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
