Washington state apple, cherry industries wary of trade. Sour, or tart cherries have a much shorter growing season, and can be found for a week or two, usually during the middle of june in warmer areas. Cherries are one of the freshest produce items available. Cherry season peaks in july with the sweet morsels gracing grocery store shelves across the u. Washington growers prepare for cherry season ideal weather conditions have provided a nice platform for washington cherry growers as they look ahead to the harvest in less than a. Washington state for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and other crops. Listed by product name, this guide outlines the months that each fruit or vegetable is typically grown and harvested from farms throughout the pacific northwest. If you want to see the cherry blossom in all its glory, check out green lake park, one of seattle residents favorite spots for a spring stroll. Cherry season which typically runs from june 15 to aug. Feel free to reach out to any of the companies provided on the shippers list. Washington cherries from rainier fruit the taste of.
The washington state fruit commission northwest cherry growers is a state agency promotion office. The rainier cherry, named after washington states famous volcanic peak, was created in 1972 by crossbreeding the bing and van varieties. Washington state is known worldwide for large commercial crops of apples and potatoes. Today, washington state is the top producer of sweet cherries in the country. While other items such as apples have found ways to be available all season long. Varieties cherry wsu tree fruit washington state university. Washington, california, and oregon are the primary sweet cherry producing states, accounting for more than 95 percent of the quantity produced nationwide nass 2018 cherry report. Washington state grows more sweet cherries than any other region in the nation. Growing cherries of any variety is a fickle business. Cool spring weather has extended the cherry harvest season, but there are a lot of cherries out there to market, and many are lessthanoptimal size. However, this product is stored and available in other seasons from local sources. Washington state is known worldwide for large commercial crops of apples and. One of our readers, ko, recommends thompsons farm in naches, a 45acre farm with cherries, apples, and stone fruits for upick, and they are already open for cherry season. Fogle of washington state university in prosser, washington.
Were predicting the 2020 season to be a bit earlier than last year, from march 21 april 12, 2020. Cherry harvest is going strong in north central washington. Tart cherry season runs from early july to early august. Rainier cherries love to grow big and are aptly named by the highest mountain peak in washington state, mount rainier. As the current years cherry blossom season gets closer, we try to keep an eye on things and update this page with any changes. Best time to see cherry blossom in seattle 2020 when.
Northwest cherry growers is working on several cherry. They are sweet with a thin skin and thick creamyyellow flesh. Ap cherry and apple growers in washington state are worried their exports to china will be hurt by a growing trade war that escalated monday when that country raised import. Cherry harvest is underway in washington state with what growers think could be a stellar year as california winds down a disappointing. Cherry season sweet cherries, including the popular bing and rainier varieties, are available from may to august. This is the variety that becomes the maraschino cherries you buy at the store. Washington cherries are early casualties of trumps trade. Washington grown season 6 episode 6 cherries youtube. Growing regions scattered throughout washington, oregon, idaho, utah, and. The california cherry commission estimated that the states cherry crop will be down significantly from last. Northwest growers anticipate solid cherry season packer. New high quality cherry varieties, particularly the selffruitful introductions, combined with the availability of dwarfing rootstocks such as gisela 5, and innovations in training systems, have led to great advances in cherry culture for both home growers and orchardists in recent years. Temperatures cold enough for snow in seattle have delayed the university of washington cherry blossoms that usually begin peeking out in late february. Washington state grows more sweet cherries than any other state.
Developed in washington state, these cherries have a sweet and delicate flavor. In 1952, washington state university researcher harold fogel crossed bing and van cherries to produce the nowloved rainier cherry. Washington is the largest supplier of cherries in the united states, and exports them to places like china, korea, australia, brazil and japan. The peak season last year was roughly march 30april 21, 2019. A large yellow cherry with a red blush, rainier is an offspring of the bing. Washington state crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. I am lucky because my home state of michigan is the number 1 tart cherry grower in the united states. Whiting, talks about his research program, youtube video, 2011. Its that time of year again when washington, dc comes alive in cheerful shades of pink and white, marking the onset of spring and a time of renewal and celebration in the nations capital. Round 2 of uw cherry blossom season is underway uw news. It gets its name after the highest peak in the state of washington. Eric patrick, promotions director for the washington state fruit commission, yakima, said the late season cherries are important in the states cherry marketing. White gold, recently introduced from cornell, is a selffertile variety that needs no pollinator. Californias loss was washingtons gain in last years cherry market.
July is the perfect month for picking this gorgeous. When you think rainier geographically, your mind should go straight to that pacific state. Welcome to the home of world famous northwest cherries. Washingtons cherry crop could set record the seattle times.
The northwest cherry season lasts from the first week of june until the end of august. Lifes a bowl of cherries and we see just how sweet that is in this episode. Monthbymonth upick crops around puget sound greater seattle. Rough california cherry season ends as pnw begins orchards. Northwest cherry growers washington state fruit commission. The 2018 season ended as one of the best on record with some of the best quality and flavor in nearly 30 years and the 2019 crop looks to be a repeat of 2018. Rainier cherries washington state magazine washington. Round 2 of uw cherry blossom season is underway michelle ma. Two main types of cherries are produced in the united states. Of course, weather changes, season variations, variety of a crop planted and other factors profoundly affect the dates, so this is a general guide only.
However, many other popular fruits and vegetables are grown. Take the train to cherry blossom season in washington, dc. Monthbymonth upick crops around puget sound greater. Washington dcs cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on april 1, 2019. The state of washington is definitely the rainier state. Washington states pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and more.
Despite snow in seattle, cherry blossoms on track for typical season michelle ma. Experts at washingtons premiere cherry grower, rainier fruit, say their cherries will be available midjune with volume building quickly. Department of agriculture policy, washington state fruit. Seattle is a very green city with several lakefront parks where cherry blossom is simply gorgeous. Chelan fresh washington state cherries cherry varieties. Northwest horticultural council pacific northwest sweet cherries cherry fact sheet 2018 sweet cherry production volume. Its far too early to know when dcs cherry blossoms will bloom in 2020. Whiting, wsuiarec, presentation, wsha annual meeting, 2014. Cherry blossoms outside gerberding hall are nearly in full bloom. The citys annual cherry blossom season is just about in full bloom, with experts predicting the peak to occur between march 20 and april, culminating with the national cherry blossom festival. Most cherries in washington are grown in the yakima valley with chukars hometown of prosser at the epicenter. Virtual and driving tours to see cherry blossom trees in. Developed right here in washington state, and named after our most famous peak, these sweet, elegant cherries are goldenyellow with a red blush.
The primary tart cherry producing state is michigan, which typically accounts for nearly 75 percent of tart cherry production. Mark stennes a grower for chelan fresh talks about the process of picking cherries. Late june is when the shipping of these cherries begins. You can find some ideas for other things to see and do in dc here.
According to the washington state department of agriculture, sweet cherries are the states number six cash crop with a value of about a half billion dollars. With a creamy yellow flesh, this delicate cherry is at its very best when eaten fresh. You can pick local crops to enjoy during the growing season, as well as. Blossoms on the iconic university of washington quad cherry trees will begin emerging soon, with. Washington state cherry harvest avoids anticipated delay washington state cherry growers avoid significant weather damage and anticipated delay to harvest season. Ripened on the tree, cherries are generally harvested, packed and on the shelf of your favorite retailer within 2 days. You can pick local crops to enjoy during the growing season, as well as preserve some for your winter pantry and. Were expecting a great crop, hitting nearly 20 million boxes, and look.
Developed in 1952 at washington state university, the rainier cherry is a cross between the bing and the van. The washington state fruit commission is a nonprofit organization that provides grower education, research, and promotional support of stone fruit across the united states and foreign countries. Parking cherry blossom viewers should park in lot e1 and follow the signs to walk to the quad. Northwest cherry growers include 2,500 growers across wa, or, id, ut and mt.
The northwest cherry season lasts from the first week of june until the end of. Washington, california, and oregon are the primary. Growers werent sure what to make of the shortfall out of california this season. Washington grown vegetable seasonality chart by healthier us school challenge vegetable group categories produce green arugula. Opportunities to improve sweet cherry production efficiency, m. On average, they bloom around the last week of march into the first week or april, but it can also be. Gisela cherry rootstocks, webpage with links to cherry pruning videos. It is a cross between the popular bing cherry and the van cherry. It was developed in 1952 at washington state university by harold fogle, and named after mount rainier. Rainier cherries have a distinctive appearance among sweet cherry varieties.
Washington state cherry harvest avoids anticipated delay. Cherries have the shortest period between flower blossom and harvest of any tree fruit 6075 days. With the cherry harvest underway, what to expect in 2019. Types of cherries grown in northern michigan king orchards. The earlier dates are more applicable to southwest washington and the later dates for more northerly or colder areas. Well visit the oldest rainier cherry orchard in the world and see how they. We grow these yellow mediumsized cherries for the commercial market.
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