Bumper cherry crop sweetens farm economy

The good news is this state’s cherry crop looks good—a marked improvement over 2022. It is sweetening our farm economy especially for cherry growers who have struggled over the last five years.

“Last year’s cold, wet April brought down the cherry crop,” Wenatchee World writer Gabriel Garcia recently reported. “But this year, the Washington state cherry harvest is in full swing, and the industry is optimistic about it.”

Washington’s cherry growers expect to pick 21 million 20-pound boxes which is up from 13 million last year and 20 million in 2021. Harvesting started in June and wraps up in mid...