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.
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, the market has remained tight throughout the season, 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.
On-ad retail prices for cherries averaged $4.75 per pound 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.
Some growers do not anticipate prices to come down till the middle of Washington’s cherry program. 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.
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.
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.
