Cherry Production ISSN: 1948-9072 Released June 22, 2016, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tart Cherry Production Up 39 Percent United States tart cherry production is forecast at 309 million pounds, up 39 percent from the 2015 production. In Michigan, the largest producing State, growers were confident about the tart cherry crop with higher forecasted yields than last year. The crop was developing on schedule with good growth on trees reported throughout the State. Utah growers reported a crop that will result in relatively good production. Favorable conditions contributed to good yields. In Wisconsin, the major tart cherry growing area of the State escaped a late frost and growers were looking forward to a good year. In Washington, growers reported a record early harvest this year due to warm weather. New York growers anticipate a less than average crop this year. Most growers reporting low production cited freeze and frost at bloom. Tart Cherry Production - States and United States: 2014, 2015, and Forecasted 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total production State :-------------------------------------------- : 2014 : 2015 : 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : million pounds : Michigan ................: 203.0 134.0 222.7 New York ................: 10.0 8.2 8.0 Oregon 1/ ...............: 2.4 2.8 (NA) Pennsylvania 1/ .........: 0.9 3.2 (NA) Utah ....................: 51.0 40.0 43.0 Washington ..............: 24.3 25.0 24.4 Wisconsin ...............: 12.3 9.4 11.0 : United States ...........: 303.9 222.6 309.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. 1/ Estimates discontinued in 2016. Sweet Cherry Production Down 6 Percent United States sweet cherry production is forecast at 318,000 tons, down 6 percent from 2015. In California, counties with the largest production reported substantial damage to cherries due to heavy rains early in May which significantly reduced the crop. Some growers ceased harvesting after finding cracks in 50 to 70 percent of their cherries. Growers in Oregon and Washington reported a record early harvest this year due to warm weather. In Michigan, growers were optimistic about having a better crop than in 2015. Sweet cherries were generally reported as developing on schedule and growth looked good throughout the State. Sweet Cherry Production - States and United States: 2014, 2015, and Forecasted 2016 [Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total production State :-------------------------------------------- : 2014 : 2015 : 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- : tons : California ..............: 33,200 68,000 60,000 Idaho 1/ ................: 2,120 2,600 (NA) Michigan ................: 29,860 15,900 21,000 Montana 1/ 2/ ...........: 2,090 (NA) New York 1/ .............: 630 900 (NA) Oregon ..................: 57,900 41,000 42,000 Utah 1/ .................: 1,050 85 (NA) Washington ..............: 237,000 210,000 195,000 : United States ...........: 363,850 338,485 318,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. 1/ Estimates discontinued in 2016. 2/ The first estimate for 2015 sweet cherries in Montana will be published in the July 2016 "Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2015 Summary." Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Grower surveys were conducted in 7 cherry estimating States. Producers were contacted to obtain expected yield or production and their assessment of the current crop relative to a full crop. Telephone follow-up of mail survey non-respondents was used to ensure adequate coverage. Estimating Procedures: Information obtained from the cherry grower surveys were used to establish estimates of sweet and tart cherries. These estimates were reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates and industry check data. Revision Policy: All sweet and tart cherry estimates are subject to revision the following year based on a thorough review of all available data. Reliability: Survey results are subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors cannot be measured directly, but are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch............................................... (202) 720-2127 Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section........ (202) 720-2127 Vincent Davis - Fresh and Processing Vegetables, Onions, Strawberries, Sugarbeets, Sugarcane, Cherries................................................ (202) 720-2157 Fleming Gibson - Citrus, Coffee, Tropical Fruits.......................... (202) 720-5412 Greg Lemmons - Berries, Cranberries, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes ............ (202) 720-4285 Dave Losh - Hops.......................................................... (360) 709-2400 Dan Norris - Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas, Lentils, Mint, Mushrooms, Peaches, Pears, Wrinkled Seed Peas, Dry Beans ............ (202) 720-3250 Daphne Schauber - Floriculture, Grapes, Maple Syrup, Nursery, Tree Nuts .. (202) 720-4215 Chris Singh - Apples, Apricots, Plums, Prunes, Tobacco ................... (202) 720-4288 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. 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