Indonesian Market Remains Open & Crop Update

Indonesian Market Remains Open & Crop Update

At least for this harvest season, Central Washington cherry, apple, and pear growers can rest a little easier now that Indonesia has announced they will continue to allow fresh U.S. fruits and vegetables to enter through the Port of Jakarta. For reasons unknown, Indonesia had threatened to restrict by 90% the imports of fresh fruits and vegetables into the Port of Jakarta, which would have resulted in virtually closing off the Indonesian market to U.S. imports as other Indonesia ports are simply unable to handle that size of volume. Indonesia has also stated they will delay new import licensing restrictions until September. In 2010, Indonesia was a $57 million market for Pacific Northwest apples, pears and cherries.

Northwest Ag’s Greg Martin has the recent crop progress and condition report for the state.

MARTIN: Strawberry harvest is in full swing, as well as sweet cherry harvest having begun in the Yakima Valley with a very minimal show of rain cracking after the late spring rains. Those rains have resulted in rapid growth in winter wheat fields, and a delay in some hay cuttings as producers wait for dryer warmer weather. With stripe rust showing up in some fields now producers are starting to spray. Most of the dry bean crop has now been planted. Apricots are looking good and harvest should begin in the next couple of weeks. Cattle drives have moved herds to higher elevation for summer grazing, and many dairy producers have started their second cutting of grass.

Thank you Greg.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. 

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