1/14/09 Cherry Institute

Cherry Institute. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The Washington cherry industry is about to come together for their annual meeting according to BJ Thurlby with NW Cherries. THURLBY: It's basically the day of just talking about cherry production, cherry horticulture, cherry marketing and it's really a full day on cherries for all growers in the northwest. To date some 600 people have registered to attend the 66th Annual Cherry Institute this Friday at the Yakima Convention Center. THURLBY: Well it's primarily a grower day but there is also a trade show there. The primary point of it is actually the classes that are available that we're putting on to try to keep looking at quality. That's how our industry is successful and that's how our industry will continue to be successful by improving quality. Cost is $15 for the day and $25 for the day and lunch. THURLBY: The biggest thing that we're all going to be asking ourselves is how this current world economy, not just our United States economy, how will it play out. How is it going to effect as we've seen the dollar start to strengthen again in the world market last year it was weaker but at the same time we've seen it strengthen which means that the buying power of some of these other export countries that we work with, it's going to be weaker so what effect will that have when they look at their total economy and we still think we can find 25% of the total crop homes off-shore which is I think, critical. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.