Northwest cherries overcome early-season challenges for a bountiful 2025 harvest

Cherry season in the Northwest came to a successful close despite an early retail debut of the region’s fourth-largest crop output on record.

According to industry organization Northwest Cherries, the local harvest featured a strong-quality fruit that lasted up until the very end of the season. Additionally, exports increased by over four percent compared to last year. 

A touch of serendipity

Things didn’t look so bright in the beginning, though. 

Heat waves in the region led to an early and bountiful crop, and retail prices took their sweet time adjusting to the higher-than-usual volume hitting the market ahead of schedule.

Normally, this would’ve meant surplus and rock bottom prices. But growers were not counting on Lady Luck smiling their way.

High volumes of Northwest cherries landed on shelves as early as June, and the region’s growers feared their jumbo crop would overlap with California’s. 

But to the industry’s surprise, the Golden State’s estimate of seven to eight million boxes fell short, and Northwest cherries entered the market just in time to fill the supply gap.

The organization announced an export total of 23.6 million 20-pound boxes, a 4.6 percent increase over the initially projected 22.5 million boxes.

Canada kept its place as the main importer of Northwestern cherries, making up 10 percent of all shipments this season, followed by China, Taiwan, Korea, and Mexico.

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