Northwest cherry season winds down with dramatic Rainier volume decline

In what might be the last update before the final numbers for the 2026 season come out, industry body Northwest Cherries reported a little over 16 million 20-pound boxes shipped so far. 

The organization representing growers in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana said harvest is wrapping up in several regions and supplies are becoming increasingly more limited. However, the sector emphasized that flavor, size, and quality remain exceptional. 

The preliminary crop report might spark some concern, as it puts the industry three million boxes behind the 19.2 million Northwest Cherries forecasted back in May. With volumes winding down and only around half a million boxes projected for August, growers might have a hard time meeting early season goals. 

The May estimate had already been revised downward from the initial April projections, which put total volumes anywhere between 19.5 and 21.5 million 20-pound boxes. 

As anticipated by the industry at the beginning of the current campaign, the production timeline is essentially identical to last year’s and slightly ahead of the region’s five-year average. Warmer-than-usual temperatures in early Spring jump-started the season at the end of May, giving it close to a 15-day head start that has remained throughout the campaign. 

Northwest Rainier volumes are down

According to Northwest Cherries, the 2026 Rainier season is coming to an early close with a crop significantly smaller than usual. 

The industry’s five-year average shows volumes beginning to wind down after the first week of July, but 2026 numbers indicate a considerable slowdown starting two weeks early, in the third week of June. 

In what might be the variety’s final volumes for 2026, the industry reported shipping 1.1 million 15-pound boxes. This number stands in sharp contrast to last season’s final tally of 2.3 million boxes, reflecting a whopping 52 percent year-on-year drop.

“The decline in volume was primarily the result of weather-related impacts, including wind and rain damage that affected the 2026 crop,” said Northwest Cherries in its latest crop report. 

With a final month of summer still ahead, the industry body is encouraging retailers to make the most out of the remainder of the season and invited them to keep promoting the fruit while supplies last. Meanwhile, dark sweet cherries are still out in promotable volumes and ready to give the 2026 Northwest campaign a final push. 

*All graphs courtesy of Northwest Cherries.  

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