Fr Nt 2-4 (6-08) Cherry Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released June 19, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cherry Production" call Mike Jacobsen at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Tart Cherry Production Down 30 Percent U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 177 million pounds, 30 percent below the 2007 production and 33 percent below the production in 2006. Michigan, the largest producing State, expects a crop of 135 million pounds, down 30 percent from the 2007 crop and 29 percent below 2006. Multiple spring freezes and wet weather during pollination hampered fruit set in the northwest and west central regions. However, growers in the southwest region were more optimistic about the crop potential. Washington expects to produce 16.5 million pounds of tart cherries in 2008, up 43 percent from 2007 but 26 percent lower than 2006. A mid-April frost in eastern Washington did not have a negative impact on cherry production. Utah production is forecast at 12.0 million pounds, 40 percent below 2007 and 57 percent below 2006 production. A late freeze, cold spring, and a cooler than normal summer resulted in reduced yields. New York is expected to produce 9.20 million pounds of tart cherries, 29 percent lower than the 2007 crop and 12 percent below 2006. Frost in the Lake Ontario and Hudson Valley regions, along with a hailstorm in the Lake Ontario region, reduced yields. Pennsylvania expects to produce 3.00 million pounds of tart cherries, 14 percent below 2007 and down 42 percent from 2006. Freezing temperatures in spring reduced the potential for a large crop. Oregon's production is forecast at 1.40 million pounds, up 180 percent from 2007 but 59 percent below the production in 2006. Cool weather extended the bloom period, therefore increasing pollination. Wisconsin production is forecast at 200,000 pounds, 98 percent below 2007 production and 96 percent below 2006. Stress from last year's high production and dry summer, along with an early January warm spell and sudden freeze, severely reduced fruit production. Tart Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2006-07 and Forecasted 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Million Pounds : MI : 190.0 193.0 135.0 NY : 10.4 13.0 9.2 OR : 3.4 0.5 1.4 PA : 5.2 3.5 3.0 UT : 28.0 20.0 12.0 WA : 22.3 11.5 16.5 WI : 4.5 10.4 0.2 : US : 263.8 251.9 177.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet Cherry Production Down 23 Percent U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 249,580 tons, down 23 percent from 2007 and 15 percent below 2006. The Washington crop forecast of 100,000 tons is unchanged from the June forecast. The forecast is 41 percent below the 2007 production and 40 percent below the production in 2006. Cool temperatures during bloom inhibited bee activity and pollination, then a mid-April frost severely damaged a large portion of the sweet cherry crop. Production in California is forecast at 86,000 tons, 1 percent higher than the 2007 production and 104 percent above 2006. The California forecast is carried forward from June. Cool temperatures and light rain were beneficial to fruit growth. Oregon production is forecast at 35,000 tons, unchanged from the previous forecast and 2007 production but 36 percent below the production in 2006. Projected production levels varied considerably among growers in different regions. The Michigan crop is forecast at 25,000 tons, 8 percent below the 2007 production but 25 percent higher than the 2006 crop. Multiple spring frosts damaged some cherry orchards, resulting in reduced yields. Idaho is expecting a sweet cherry crop of 2,100 tons, up 40 percent from last year but 45 percent lower than 2006. Despite a mid-April frost, the sweet cherry crop is expected to be higher than last year. New York production is forecast at 1,030 tons, 13 percent below the 2007 crop but 7 percent higher than 2006. A cold start to the season and dry conditions in some areas reduced yields. Utah production is expected to total 450 tons, down 64 percent from 2007 and down 75 percent from 2006. Frosts and cold summer temperatures decimated flower buds. Sweet Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2006-07 and Forecasted 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : CA 1/ : 42,100 85,000 86,000 ID : 3,800 1,500 2,100 MI : 20,000 27,300 25,000 MT 2/ : 2,400 2,430 NY : 960 1,190 1,030 OR : 55,100 35,000 35,000 UT : 1,800 1,250 450 WA : 168,000 170,000 100,000 : US : 294,160 323,670 249,580 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Forecast carried forward from "Crop Production" released June 10, 2008. 2/ The first estimate for 2008 sweet cherries in MT will be published in the January 2009 "Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2008 Preliminary Summary". 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