Fr Nt 2-4 (6-99) Cherry Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released June 24, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cherry Production" call Steven Gunn at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Tart Cherry Production Down 25 Percent U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 260 million pounds, down 25 percent from 1998 and 11 percent below 1997. This level is the lowest since 1991 when 190 million pounds were produced. Michigan, the largest producing state, expects a crop of 192 million pounds, down 27 percent from last year and 15 percent below the 1997 crop. Drought conditions in the fall along with light frost damage reduced bud formation in the northern growing areas. Southwestern Michigan reports excellent fruit set due to favorable growing conditions. Crop maturity is making normal progress. Fruit size is expected to be large and of good quality due to excellent weather conditions since pollination. Production in Utah is forecast at 14 million pounds, down 58 percent from 1998 and down 20 percent from two years ago. Most growing areas were severely hit by freezing weather this spring which reduced bud counts. In New York production is up 36 percent from last year because of excellent growing conditions. Growers expect large fruit size and excellent quality. Oregon and Washington both expect smaller crops than last year. Oregon's forecast is down 11 percent and Washington's is down 6 percent. A long cool winter followed by heavy rains during pollination have reduced crop expectations for both states. Pennsylvania growers expect their crop to more than double from last year and increase 39 percent from 1997. Most growers experienced excellent growing conditions. Wisconsin expects to harvest 42 percent fewer tart cherries than in 1998 and 26 percent fewer than 1997. Rain and cold weather combined to hinder pollination. Tart Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 1997-98 and Forecasted 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Million Pounds : CO : 0.7 1.3 0.6 MI : 225.0 263.0 192.0 NY : 14.5 14.0 19.0 OR : 3.7 4.5 4.0 PA : 6.5 4.2 9.0 UT : 17.5 33.0 14.0 WA : 13.5 14.0 13.2 WI : 11.5 14.7 8.5 : Total : 292.9 348.7 260.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet Cherry Production Up 3 Percent U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 217,000 tons, up 3 percent from 1998 but 4 percent below 1997. California expects to produce a much larger crop while Oregon, Washington and Michigan expect declines. The Washington crop, at 80,000 tons, is 17 percent less than last year and unchanged from the previous forecast. Production in Oregon is forecast at 53,000 tons, down 4 percent from last year and unchanged from the previous forecast. Winter weather conditions lasted longer than normal this growing season in the Northwest. Cool weather and heavy rain during the bloom period resulted in reduced pollination in many areas. The sweet cherry crop in California is forecast at 50,000 tons, more than triple the 1998 crop and up 2 percent from 1997. Moderate rains over a large portion of the State and a good amount of chill hours contributed to the favorable growing conditions in California. The Michigan sweet cherry crop is forecast at 29,000 tons, down 17 percent from 1998 but up 7 percent from 1997. Bud formation was reduced by drought conditions last fall. Some frost damage was also reported. Harvest will start around July 1. Idaho, Montana, and Utah are forecasting smaller crops than a year ago due to frost damage and poor weather conditions during the spring. New York and Pennsylvania are expecting larger crops due to favorable weather conditions. Sweet Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 1997-98 and Forecasted 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : CA 1/ : 49,200 15,400 50,000 ID : 1,600 2,200 1,400 MI : 27,000 35,000 29,000 MT : 1,100 2,050 1,300 NY : 650 700 950 OR : 50,000 55,000 53,000 PA : 500 550 650 UT : 720 2,800 700 WA : 95,000 96,000 80,000 : Total : 225,770 209,700 217,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Forecast carried forward from "Crop Production" released June 11, 1999. * * * * * * * * The next "Cherry Production" report will be released in 2000. Subscription Information To subscribe to NASS reports or to order single copies, call toll free, 1-800-999-6779. You may write: ERS/NASS, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161.