Fr Nt 2-4 (7-02) Cherry Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 1, 2002, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cherry Production" call Steven Gunn at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Tart Cherry Production Down 84 Percent U.S. tart cherry production is forecast at 59.1 million pounds, down 84 percent from 2001 and 80 percent below 2000. This level is the lowest since 1943 when 40.8 million pounds were produced. Michigan, normally the largest producing State, expects a crop of 15.0 million pounds, down 95 percent from last year and 92 percent below 2000. Unusual spring weather devastated the Michigan tart cherry crop. The State received three days of temperature above 80 degrees in mid April which pushed the trees into budding. In the Northwest, this was followed by a "wind freeze" that damaged the high ground trees. This freeze event was followed by several inversion frosts that damaged trees in the lower areas. The West Central crop was damaged by the April weather and additionally was damaged by a late May freeze where temperatures were as low as 24 degrees. Combined these two areas had over 11 days with below freezing temperatures. In addition cold, wet conditions during most of April and May severely limited pollination in all districts further reducing fruit set. Washington expects to harvest 18.0 million pounds of tart cherries in 2002, down 29 percent from 2001 but up 3 percent from 2000. Washington's production was reduced by poor pollination weather and frost. Wisconsin expects a crop of 4.2 million pounds, down 68 percent from last season. Wisconsin received warm weather in April followed by heavy frost and rain during pollination which severely reduced fruit set. New York is expected to produce 12.0 million pounds of tart cherries for 2002, down 18 percent from last year and 28 percent below 2000. Oregon, Utah, and Colorado also expect tart cherry production to be down from last season. Oregon forecasts a 4 percent smaller crop than last year. Utah expects a crop of 3.0 million pounds, 75 percent smaller than last season. Colorado's tart cherry crop, at 0.5 million pounds, is down 37 percent from last year due to a freeze in early May when the crop was in full bloom. All three States suffered losses due to frost early in the growing season. Pennsylvania expects to harvest 4.1 million pounds of tart cherries in 2002, up 5 percent from last year but 33 percent below 2000. Cool weather affected some growing areas limiting fruit set but most of the State's crop was unaffected. Tart Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2000-01 and Forecasted 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2000 : 2001 : 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Million Pounds : CO : 0.9 0.8 0.5 MI : 200.0 297.0 15.0 NY : 16.6 14.7 12.0 OR : 4.4 2.4 2.3 PA : 6.1 3.9 4.1 UT : 33.0 12.0 3.0 WA : 17.5 25.5 18.0 WI : 10.0 13.0 4.2 : Total : 288.5 369.3 59.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet Cherry Production Down 11 Percent U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast 203,985 tons, down 11 percent from 2001 and 1 percent below 2000. This is the lowest sweet cherry production since 1998 when 196,900 tons were produced. The Washington crop, at 90,000 tons, is down 5 percent from the previous forecast and 15 percent below last year. Poor pollination and frost combined to reduce the Washington sweet cherry crop. Production in California is forecast at 65,000 tons, 18 percent more than last year. California's production was boosted by an increase in bearing acreage and good weather during bloom. The California forecast was carried forward from the June Crop Production report. The sweet cherry crop in Oregon is forecast at 39,000 tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 2 percent from 2001. Oregon's production was decreased by poor weather during bloom which more than offset an increase in bearing acres. The Michigan sweet cherry crop is forecast at 5,500 tons, down 76 percent from last year and 72 percent below 2000. Most sweet cherry producing areas in Michigan received below freezing temperatures in April and May that killed buds or blossoms. Cold, wet, and windy conditions also limited pollination. Idaho is expecting a sweet cherry crop of 1,700 tons, up 21 percent from last year but 43 percent below 2000. The Idaho crop suffered some freeze damage but not quite as severely as the frost that hit the 2001 crop. Utah is forecasting sweet cherry production to be 400 tons, a decline of 43 percent from last year's crop. A hard frost in Utah has severely reduced fruit set. Montana expects a crop of 1,500 tons, down 26 percent from last year. A late cool spring and sporadic, wet snowfall during April and May have affected the crop's potential. New York and Pennsylvania are expecting smaller crops than last season, down 55 and 34 percent, respectively. Frost conditions severely limited crop potential in both States. Sweet Cherries: Total Production by State and United States, 2000-01 and Forecasted 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total Production State :-------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2000 : 2001 : 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons : CA 1/ : 47,000 55,300 65,000 ID : 3,000 1,400 1,700 MI : 19,600 23,000 5,500 MT : 1,100 2,020 1,500 NY : 900 1,100 500 OR : 37,000 40,000 39,000 PA : 500 580 385 UT : 2,400 700 400 WA : 95,000 106,000 90,000 : Total : 206,500 230,100 203,985 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Forecast carried forward from "Crop Production" released June 12, 2002. The next "Cherry Production" report will be released in June, 2003. 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.