US grower cooperative Northwest Cherries expects to increase production to 17.2m 20lb-equivalent boxes this year from 14m in 2010, despite a very late start to harvest.
A cold April and a wet May have persuaded fieldmen that the earliest harvests will begin on 13 June.
July should again see the largest volumes – 10 million boxes are forecast for that month –but the lateness of the crop could make it difficult to supply retailers in good time for the Independence Day holiday on 4 July.
Conversely, August will see more cherries than ever before – up to 4m boxes, compared to 2.2m last year.
The Rainier crop is reported to be of good size at this point.
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