Looking More Normal for Cherries

Looking More Normal for Cherries

Looking More Normal for Cherries. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Yesterday we talked with BJ Thurlby, Northwest Cherries about some of the possibilities for the 2010 cherry crop. Last years monster crop created its own set of problems for producers and at least at this early date it appears this year may be a bit more "normal." THURLBY: Normal in terms of we think we're going to be picking our first cherries right at the end of May, first couple weeks of June and that's normal. That gives us I think our best opportunity for success when you are a grower. All the other factors, the markets – I think the markets' better than last year. I think the economy is up a little but I think that the retail trade certainly learned a lesson last year that they could sell a lot of cherries at $2.99 a pound on ad and I think they are heading back in that direction this year so that's very positive. Besides keeping an eye out for frost during the early part of the season there has been a looming question as to whether the bee pollination would be good. THURLBY: Certain growing areas have been better off than others. You know you only need a couple of hours on the right day to get it done and we've had plenty of those opportunities to set the crop. Then on the other side the technique growers are using is they bring in pollen and actually blow pollen throughout the orchard and I've talked to quite a few different growers that have been doing that so that's another option and we'll see how that works. Thurlby says that all things considered there should be plenty of cherries when it comes to that all important July 4th date. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
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