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The upcoming season for imported fruits looks very promising. In this and future issues of our 2005 Bulletins we will bring you seasonal updates for a range of products, such as US cherries and grapes, along with merchandising ideas and details of promotion support.
As always, we value any comments and suggestions.
John and Mark Baker
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 I have good news to report from Jim Culbertson at the California Cherry Advisory Board.
"As the picture shows, most all of the fruit is currently hard and green and continues to be growing well. The cherries are clean and in excellent shape. While California has experienced a wetter than normal spring, this has only led to lack of need for irrigation.
Click image to enlarge
Crop timing appears to be slightly later (4 to 7 days) than last season due to cooler temperatures during the growth period this season. We expect the first significant harvest of any cherries in California to begin April 22-24 which would be Brooks. Bings should start to harvest in light volumes May 10-14 with daily volumes increasing from that point forward. Peak Bing volume should occur between May 25 and June 10.
Early harvest Bing orchards look to have slightly lighter volume than last year, with late harvest Bing orchards having more cherries than last year. Trees with this type of crop load will generally produce larger fruit for the given volume."
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 The early estimate for Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah) cherries is 12 million 20-pound boxes, according to a report prepared by Agrimanagement, Inc. for the Washing State Fruit Commission. If this estimate becomes a reality, 2005 will represent a full crop for the Northwest Cherry industry.
This tonnage represents all varieties, including Bing and other dark sweet cherries and the creamy yellow colored Rainier cherry.
Click image to enlarge
"The preliminary crop estimates for 2005 are looking outstanding. But until we actually begin harvesting in about seven weeks, the true numbers for 2005 are yet to be realized," says BJ Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission. "Over the last few years, crops have been increasing to a point that the 2005 production should be in line with what the market is anticipating. Likewise, our international business partners should be expecting increased sweet cherry availability in July … as many late season varieties are coming into first time production this year."
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