Fr Nt 2-4 (6-05) Cherry Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released June 23, 2005, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on Cherry Production call Terry P. O'Connor at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Tart Cherry Production Up 15 Percent U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 244 million pounds, 15 percent above 2004 production and 8 percent above production in 2003. Beginning with this 2005 forecast, Colorado is no longer in the tart cherry estimating program. Michigan, the largest producing State, expects a crop of 190 million pounds, an increase of 28 percent from the 2004 crop and up 23 percent from 2003. Fruit set is variable across the State but is better than last year in most areas. Leaf canopy is very good. Dry conditions have led to low disease pressure, so potential fruit quality is excellent but sizing may be reduced. Utah production is forecast at 19.0 million pounds, compared to 22.0 million pounds produced in 2004 and 26.0 million pounds in 2003. Frost reduced crop potential. Washington expects to produce 18.0 million pounds of tart cherries in 2005, up 3 percent from 2004 but 10 percent less than 2003. No major problems have been encountered but scattered spring frosts occurred in some areas. New York is expected to produce 7.50 million pounds, 30 percent less than the 2004 crop but 4 percent above 2003. Heavy snow cover caused some tree damage, while cold, rainy weather during bloom reduced crop potential. Wisconsin production is forecast at 6.40 million pounds, 4 percent below 2004 and 52 percent below the 2003 production. Poor weather during pollination reduced yield potential. Pennsylvania expects to produce 2.70 million pounds of tart cherries, 10 percent below 2004 and down 31 percent from 2003. The trees wintered well, but a strong bloom was accompanied by cool conditions that hampered pollination. Oregon's crop forecast of 0.60 million pounds, is an 85 percent decrease from last year's crop and 57 percent below 2003. Rain, wind, and frost during bloom devastated this year's crop. If realized, this production is a record low. Tart Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2003-04 and Forecasted 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2003 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Million Pounds : CO 1/ : 0.4 0.2 MI : 154.0 149.0 190.0 NY : 7.2 10.7 7.5 OR : 1.4 3.9 0.6 PA : 3.9 3.0 2.7 UT : 26.0 22.0 19.0 WA : 20.1 17.5 18.0 WI : 13.3 6.7 6.4 : Total : 226.3 213.0 244.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Estimates discontinued in 2005. Sweet Cherry Production Down 20 Percent U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 226,550 tons, down 20 percent from 2004 and 8 percent below 2003. Beginning with this 2005 forecast, Pennsylvania is no longer in the sweet cherry estimating program. The Washington crop forecast of 120,000 tons is unchanged from the June Crop Production report. The crop is 10 percent below the record high production of 2004 but 2 percent above the crop of 2003. Washington's crop experienced poor weather during bloom that hindered bee activity and pollination. Frost during April was also a problem. Fruit set is reported to be lighter than last year as many growers are reporting smaller fruit clusters. Production in California is forecast at 45,000 tons, 38 percent less than last year. The California forecast is carried forward from the June 1 forecast. A series of heavy, late-season storms caused problems for this year's cherry crop. The rains hit at the peak harvesting time for cherries in the southern San Joaquin Valley and the excess moisture caused some splitting and cracking. Oregon production is forecast at 29,000 tons, down 17 percent from the previous forecast and 33 percent below 2004. Oregon sweet cherries experienced an early spring in February until bloom in March, when rain, wind, and frost killed off many blooms. Some orchards in the Willamette Valley were hit hard and those growers may declare a crop failure. The Michigan crop is forecast at 27,000 tons, 9 percent above the 2004 production and more than double the 2003 crop. A large crop with heavy fruit set is developing due to warm temperatures and good pollination. Idaho is expecting a sweet cherry crop of 2,200 tons, down 29 percent from last year and 24 percent below 2003. Production is forecast to be down from recent years due to a cool spring which hampered pollination but high quality fruit is reported. The Montana crop is forecast at 1,300 tons, 45 percent below 2004 and 37 percent less than 2003. Early spring-like weather, followed by a late frost, resulted in significant bloom damage. Utah is forecasting production to be 1,100 tons, down 31 percent from 2004 and a 50 percent decrease from the 2003 crop. Frost during bloom, combined with hail at the beginning of fruit maturity, reduced crop potential. New York production is forecast at 950 tons, 6 percent above the 2004 crop and 58 percent greater than 2003. Growers in the Lake Ontario region are reporting a good crop. Sweet Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2003-04 and Forecasted 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2003 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : CA 1/ : 65,600 73,000 45,000 ID : 2,900 3,100 2,200 MI : 13,000 24,700 27,000 MT : 2,060 2,360 1,300 NY : 600 900 950 OR : 41,000 43,000 29,000 PA 2/ : 340 400 UT : 2,200 1,600 1,100 WA : 118,000 133,000 120,000 : Total : 245,700 282,060 226,550 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Forecast carried forward from "Crop Production" released June 10, 2005. 2/ Estimates discontinued in 2005. Subscription Information To subscribe to NASS reports or to order single copies, call toll free, 1-800-999-6779. You may write: ERS/NASS, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161.