News

Cherry grower profitability still unknown

A reduced crop size, prolific invasive species and import competition are adding up to a difficult year for cherry growers.

“It’s a very trying time for tart cherry growers this year.”    

Audrey Sebolt with Michigan Farm Bureau tells Brownfield the cool, wet spring has set the season back.

“The harvest, depending on the region, looks to be two to three weeks behind unless we get some heat and Spotted Winged Drosophila has been spotted in the state.”   

Michigan, the nation’s largest tart cherry grower, is expecting to harvest 208 million pounds, down 21 percent from last year.

Earlier this month, the International Trade Commission said investigations into Turkey dumping dried cherries into the U.S. market will continue which experts say is positive news for the industry.  Preliminarily rulings on the case will be announced in July and later in the fall.

Turkey has been marketing dried tart cherries four times less than domestic growers.

The USDA is forecasting the national cherry crop nearly 20 percent lower than last year.