News

Big cherry crops expected

The President of the Cherry Marketing Institute says farmers are finally expecting a large cherry harvest in 2016.

Phil Korson tells Brownfield most states are expecting a full crop this year.  “The U.S. crop today is forecast at 309 million pounds by USDA and the Michigan forecast was forecast at 223.7 million pounds.”

Korson, also executive director of the Michigan Cherry Committee, says Michigan’s hot and dry weather is beneficial to cherries during harvest.  “When we have hot, dry weather, the fruit stays a little bit smaller and it’s a little bit firmer.”  He says, “When we have winds they don’t bruise as badly as big and soft, so we’re expecting pretty good quality and pretty good yields.”

He says tart cherry harvest has just started in southwest Michigan and sweet cherry harvest is about a week away.

USDA’s U.S. cherry forecast increased 39 percent from last year and is up 66 percent in Michigan.

AUDIO: Interview with Phil Korson