Northwest cherry season: High quality, excellent size expected despite projected volume reduction

The Northwest cherry season is officially underway, with growers across Washington and Oregon preparing for a harvest that promises high quality despite a more tempered volume outlook.

This positivity is bolstered by a favorable marketing window, as a smaller California crop is expected to transition smoothly into Northwest production. Moreover, the industry is gearing up for historic promotional opportunities surrounding America's 250th birthday.

Volume is projected down, but hopes are up

The Northwest cherry industry has revised its initial projections for the 2026 season as the impact of spring weather becomes clearer.

According to Northwest Cherries President Eric Patrick, early-season estimates that sat between 22 and 23 million boxes have been adjusted to 21.5 million boxes.

This represents a roughly seven percent reduction from initial projections. The explanation is two-fold: on one end, there’s the natural and highly expected agronomic stress on cherry trees after 2025’s bumper season; and on the other, there's freeze damage.

Low temperatures that swept over Washington’s Yakima Valley and parts of Oregon during the first half of April hit volume projections for early varieties, such as Rainier, Yellow cherry, or Early Robbins. Patrick explained to FreshFruitPortal.com that a telling example is Chelan, whose yield usually sits at six tons per acre, but this year is projected to decrease to between three and four tons per acre.

The executive is not concerned with this revised estimate, though, calling current crop projections a "very marketable [...] nice size” for retailers and consumers alike. The season, he explained, is expected to begin shortly after Memorial Day, at the end of May, with harvest starting light before volumes ramp up significantly during the first week of June. 

"At the end of that first week of June, volumes would ramp up pretty hard and be available into August with heavier volumes and then trickle out," he explained. The peak commercial window is projected to fall between June 15 and July 20.

Joel Hewitt, VP of Sales at Washington cherry grower CMI Orchards, shares a similar positive outlook and says that, despite lower tonnage, the industry is far from a state of "doom and gloom". 

"It's better for everyone when we have a relatively more manageable supply," Hewitt said. 

The executive added that CMI also expects "good promotable fruit," with a wide portfolio including niche cultivars to support retail efforts. 

A bet on varietal renewal

The Northwest cherry sector is witnessing a strategic shift in its varietal makeup and planting priorities. 

According to Hewitt, the industry is currently in a "plateau" or consolidation phase when it comes to acreage, particularly as smaller, family-sized farms face pressure to remain profitable. In an economy that has been particularly tough on growers, the focus has shifted from expansion to maximizing returns through innovation and quality.

A major trend is the phasing out of older varieties in favor of fruit that meets modern consumer demands for size, firmness, and flavor. The President of Northwest Cherries said that newer varieties are gaining ground, including Regina, Sweethearts, Pearl series, and Black Pearl. 

However, the current belle of the ball is Skeena, which Patrick says has proven popular in export markets. Hewit agrees, saying that CMI is “still very heavy” on the variety, but it also features more niche alternatives such as Skylar Ray and Strawberry Cherry. 

The bet on new varieties in the northwest has mainly one goal, said Patrick: developing bigger, firmer fruit. The executive explained that these remain the main characteristics consumers value, both domestically and internationally. But driving demand doesn’t hinge solely on these. 

“Everyone loves eating cherries fresh out of hand, but when we hit those bigger volumes, we need people to have multiple uses for cherries,” he said. 

A west coast cherry collab

One of the most significant strategic developments for the 2026 season is a new level of collaboration between the Northwest and California cherry industries.

Recognizing that their respective commercial windows are intimately intertwined, the two regions have partnered on a "best-practices" initiative aimed at maintaining and building shelf space throughout the entire summer.

Eric Patrick explained that the goal is to ensure a seamless transition between the California and Northwest seasons, the former coming right before the other, building precious retail momentum.

The collaboration focuses on display and promotional management, providing store managers with research-backed strategies, including moving cherries out of the cooler to front-and-center ambient displays and utilizing secondary displays to capitalize on the fruit's status as a premier impulse buy.

This retail-facing effort is further bolstered by America's 250th celebration. Northwest Cherries is rolling out patriotic-themed promotions, including a special Washington 250 pie, while CMI Orchards is pushing its American Dream campaign, which includes kickbacks to support military families.

Article by Sandra Gutiérrez G., Fresh Fruit Portal