Idaho Cherry Troubles

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

I had a call last week from the Northwest Ag’s David Spark’s headquartered in Boise who was checking in to let me know the cherry producers in Idaho we having a problem in Treasure Valley. I’ll let David give you the rest of the story.

SPARKS: The culprit was frost taking out cherry blossoms and many producers lost roughly 90 percent of their seasonal crop. I called Roger Williamson owner of Williamson Orchards and Vineyards. Williamson specializes in all kinds of apples, apricots, peaches, plums, pluots, nectarines and yes, cherries. Did the frost affect your cherries?

WILLIAMSON: Yes.

SPARKS: How badly?

WILLIAMSON: It’s hard to say now. I would say we’re down half. Two-thirds to half.

SPARKS: You also grow apples. How did they make it through?

WILLIAMSON: They’re not bad. They’re just an average, normal crop.

SPARKS: Roger told me that the other fruits that he has seemed to be more robust to frost than the cherries but there are other elements involved, meaning when the blossoms are out and when the frost hits and how hard. My recommendation, if mother nature ever comes calling around your house, do not offer her any cherry pie.

Thanks David. A lot of rain in Central Washington has had cherry producers scrambling and we’ll be checking in on how it has affected the crop later in the week.

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