Cherry Assessments

Cherry Assessments. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The 2012 cherry season is over but it is time to discuss some business. Cherry and stone fruit producers here in Washington State are invited to comment on a proposed special assessment to support research at Washington State University. Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: The Washington State Department of Agriculture will hold two listening sessions on the new assessment which would be $4 a ton for cherries and $1 for stone fruits, which is equal to the assessment they already pay. The first session is scheduled for November 14 at 4 p.m. at the W.L. Hansen Building in Yakima, and the second on November 15 at 4 p.m. at the Washington Apple Commission building in Wenatchee. Funds from the assessment would be used to create new endowed research chairs and a new Extension position, as well as to support WSU’s tree fruit research orchards. Ballots will be sent out by the Dept. of Ag in mid-December.

Thanks Lacy. Apple and pear growers began paying the new assessment on the 2012 crop. They will raise up to $27 million for WSU research over the next eight years thought the assessment. Cherry and stone fruit growers did not vote in favor of the assessment. If cherry and stone fruit growers approve the assessment, an additional $5 million will be raised to support research and information and technology transfer relating to those crops.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.