Larger Cherry Harvest Forecast
WASHINGTON - Jun 12/24 - SNS -- Combined production of tart and sweet cherries will likely be up from last year on solid gains in tart output, according to the latest USDA Production estimates.
United States tart cherry production for 2024 is forecast at 222 million pounds, up 34% from 2023, in comparable States. In Michigan, an unusually mild winter was followed by frost events in March. The month of May brought warmer conditions with adequate moisture which improved tree growth and fruit development, with good pollination. In Utah, improved snowpack and increased reservoir water levels provided adequate moisture.
United States sweet cherry total production for 2024 is forecast at 355,000 tons, down 6% from 2023, in comparable states. In Washington, the largest producing state, several counties reported freezing temperatures that damaged the crop in January. In California, harvest began in late April and is expected to continue into the middle of June.
Tart Cherry Production - States and United States: 2023 and Forecasted June 1, 2024
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Total production
State :-----------------------------------------------------------
: 2023 : 2024
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: million pounds
:
Michigan ................: 133.0 182.0
New York 1/ .............: (D) (NA)
Utah ....................: 32.7 40.0
Washington 1/ ...........: (D) (NA)
Wisconsin 1/ ............: 10.0 (NA)
:
Other States ............: 24.5 (X)
:
United States ...........: 200.2 222.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
(X) Not applicable.
1/ Estimates discontinued in 2024.
Sweet Cherry Production - States and United States: 2023 and Forecasted June 1, 2024
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Total production
State :-----------------------------------------------------------
: 2023 : 2024
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: tons
:
California ..............: 107,500 105,000
Michigan 1/ .............: (NA) 22,000
Oregon ..................: 38,800 43,000
Washington ..............: 208,000 185,000
:
United States ...........: 354,300 355,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/ Estimates began in 2024.
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