Grower-shippers expect cherries to be in strong supply this summer, according to a recent survey fielded by PMG’s sister publication The Packer.
“The 2021 crop has had a great bloom – some late districts are still blooming,” B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, said in response to the survey. “We have had a larger bloom than last year, and we expect to have more fruit than the 20 million boxes we shipped in 2020.”
A smooth transition between California cherries and Northwest cherries is expected.
“California should wind out of their crop through mid to late June, and the (Northwest) will start on June 1 and hit volume by June 16, so (there’s) a potential for several weeks of overlap,” Thurlby said.
Here are a few other takeaways from The Packer’s survey of the industry:
- Fixed-weight options, including top-seal packs and clamshells, are growing in popularity because they work well with e-commerce and because consumers perceive sealed containers as safer.
- Visibility remains key to cherry sales, both in-store and online, so playing up the seasonality of the category is the most important way retailers can boost purchases.
- Even though cherries are considered something of a luxury item, consumers continued to demand them last season, and demand – including in export markets – is expected to be high again this summer.
Head over to The Packer for much more coverage of the upcoming cherry season.