Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) reported a normalization in the apple and cherry harvests for 2024, following two challenging years influenced by adverse weather conditions. Jon DeVaney, President of WSTFA, highlighted the improved conditions for cherry production, noting a 12% increase in yield compared to the previous year. The improvement comes after a period where the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognized Washington and California cherry growers for disaster relief due to severely impacted harvests. The theme of the 2024 WSTFA annual convention, "Navigating Adversity," reflects the sector's resilience amidst these challenges.
Conversely, pear growers encountered significant setbacks due to a January freeze that culminated in a one-third reduction of the pear crop. Apple production, on the other hand, exhibited a return to near-historic norms with approximately 124 million 40-pound boxes harvested. This follows a notably small crop in 2022 and a subsequent bumper crop in 2023. Despite these volumes, DeVaney expressed concerns over escalating operational costs outpacing returns for growers. These costs include fuel, labor, chemicals, and supplies. Nonetheless, the reopening of the Indian market, previously restricted by tariffs, provided a notable boost to apple sales. Additionally, the production of organic apples and new varieties saw an uptick, with Gala remaining the state's most cultivated apple variety, followed by Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, and Fuji.
Source: Columbia Basin Herald