CIAB restricts zero tart cherries

The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB) has recommended that the preliminary “free” percentage of the national tart cherry crop be set at 100 percent, and the preliminary “restricted” percentage be set at zero.

CIAB, which represents the national marketing order for red tart cherries, made its recommendation to Tom Vilsack, head of USDA. Preliminary percentages are determined in June. Final percentages will be determined in September, based on actual production, according to CIAB.

“Free” tonnage is production that can be marketed by tart cherry handlers without any restriction. “Restricted” tonnage must be retained by the handlers in inventory, or diverted into other market opportunities, according to CIAB.

CIAB considered numerous factors concerning the supply of and demand for red tart cherry products in the upcoming season. The driving story for the year is the freakish weather pattern seen in the Midwest in late winter and early spring. The weather events devastated the tart cherry crops in Michigan, New York and Wisconsin.

Fortunately, the unusual weather in the Midwest was not duplicated in the West. Producers and processors in Oregon, Utah and Washington state have reported a more typical winter and spring weather pattern and are expecting a more normal harvest, according to CIAB.

At this time, the national crop is projected to be 70 million to 75 million pounds. This will be one of the smallest tart cherry crops in U.S. history. Fortunately, handler inventories and previously restricted reserves are available to marketers to offset and mitigate the impact of the crop failure, according to CIAB.