Cherry Production ISSN: 1948-9072 Released June 17, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Special Note NASS is in the process of modifying report layouts in order to improve readability. This is the first issue produced using the new layout. This report issue is published using both layouts but future issues will only be produced using this layout. The previous layout is available on the NASS website: http://www.nass.usda.gov. Tart Cherry Production Down 46 Percent United States tart cherry production is forecast at 195 million pounds, 46 percent below the revised 2009 production. Michigan, the largest producing State, expects a crop of 140 million pounds, down 47 percent from the revised 2009 crop. The crop potential was reduced markedly by frosts during bloom. Yields vary substantially among varieties. Bacterial canker was reported by growers as a problem in some orchards. Washington expects to produce 16.0 million pounds of tart cherries in 2010, down 4 percent from 2009. Columbia Basin spring weather was predominately cool, wet, and windy this year. Frost was a problem during bloom and conditions were less than optimal for pollination. Utah production is forecast at 24.0 million pounds, down 49 percent from 2009. A late frost, cold wet spring, and tree fatigue from last year's extra heavy crop resulted in production at about half of last year's record level. New York is expected to produce 6.70 million pounds of tart cherries, 40 percent lower than the 2009 crop. Frost damage and poor weather after bloom was reported in the Lake Ontario fruit region. Producers in the Lake Erie area and Hudson Valley reported some frost and poor weather. Pennsylvania expects to produce 2.30 million pounds of tart cherries, 41 percent below 2009. Tart cherry growers are anticipating a poor crop due to cold temperatures during bloom. Oregon's production is forecast at 2.00 million pounds, down 38 percent from 2009. Production was affected by an extremely cold night in early April which led to a poor set for this year's crop. Wisconsin production is forecast at 4.30 million pounds, down significantly from last year due to multiple frosts during blossoming and cold rainy weather during pollination. Tart Cherry Production - States and United States: 2008, 2009, and Forecasted 2010 [Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total production State :-------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : million pounds : Michigan ................: 165.0 *266.0 140.0 New York ................: 9.6 11.2 6.7 Oregon ..................: 2.8 3.2 2.0 Pennsylvania ............: 3.9 3.9 2.3 Utah ....................: 20.0 47.0 24.0 Washington ..............: 12.5 16.7 16.0 Wisconsin ...............: 0.6 10.9 4.3 : United States ...........: 214.4 *358.9 195.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Sweet Cherry Production Down 27 Percent United States sweet cherry production is forecast at 315,400 tons, down 27 percent from 2009. The Washington crop forecast of 160,000 tons is down 35 percent from 2009. The crop has fallen behind on maturity due to cool, wet weather this spring. Production in California is forecast at 90,000 tons, 15 percent higher than the 2009 production. Spring weather generated occasional rain and cool temperatures during the critical development of the crop. A strong bloom occurred in March. Oregon production is forecast at 45,000 tons, down 33 percent from 2009. Cold, wet weather conditions hindered bloom, pollination, and growth. The Michigan crop is forecast at 17,000 tons, 41 percent below the 2009 production. A wind freeze in early April killed buds on trees on high sites that are generally less susceptible to frost damage. Idaho is expecting a sweet cherry crop of 1,500 tons, down 75 percent from last year. Sweet cherries in Idaho experienced freezing weather during pre- bloom that damaged this year's crop. Producers are expecting a light crop. New York production is forecast at 1,100 tons, 11 percent below the 2009 crop. The majority of sweet cherries had a big bloom and the crop looked good. Only a few growers reported frost damage this year. Utah production is expected to total 800 tons, down significantly from 2009. A late frost, cold wet spring, and tree fatigue from last year's extra heavy crop negatively impacted production, which is about half of last year's level. Sweet Cherry Production - States and United States: 2008, 2009, and Forecasted 2010 [Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total production State :-------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : tons : California 1/ ...........: 86,000 78,000 90,000 Idaho ...................: 1,900 6,000 1,500 Michigan ................: 26,500 28,700 17,000 Montana 2/ ..............: 1,560 2,390 New York ................: 1,050 1,240 1,100 Oregon 1/ ...............: 31,000 67,000 45,000 Utah ....................: 50 1,540 800 Washington 1/ ...........: 100,000 245,000 160,000 : United States ...........: 248,060 429,870 315,400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Forecast carried forward from "Crop Production" released June 10, 2010. 2/ The first estimate for 2010 sweet cherries in Montana will be published in the January 2011 "Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2010 Preliminary Summary." Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Grower surveys are conducted in 9 cherry estimating States during the growing season. Producers are contacted to obtain expected yield or production and their assessment of the current crop relative to a full crop. Telephone follow-up of mail survey non-respondents is used to ensure adequate coverage. Estimating Procedures: Information obtained from the cherry grower surveys along with federal administrative data is used to establish forecasts of total production. These forecasts are reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates. Revision Policy: Cherry production forecasts will not be revised. End-of-season estimates of production are made following harvest and are subject to revision the following year based on a thorough review of all available data. Reliability: Survey indications are subject to sampling variability because all operations growing cherries are not included in the sample. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors cannot be measured directly, but they are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch............................................. (202) 720-2127 Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section...... (202) 720-2127 Debbie Flippin - Fresh and Processing Vegetables, Onions, Strawberries.. (202) 720-2157 Fred Granja - Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Prunes, Tobacco ....... (202) 720-4288 Dawn Keen - Floriculture, Maple Syrup, Nursery, Tree Nuts .............. (202) 720-4215 Steve Maliszewski - Citrus, Coffee, Grapes, Tropical Fruits............. (202) 720-5412 Tierra Mobley - Berries, Cranberries, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes ......... (202) 720-4285 Dan Norris - Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas, Lentils, Mints, Mushrooms, Peaches, Pears, Wrinkled Seed Peas, Dry Beans .......... (202) 720-3250 Kim Ritchie - Hops...................................................... (360) 902-1940 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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