Crop Profile for Cherries (Sweet) in Washington

● Washington produces about 40 % of the USA’s sweet cherries (55 % of those grown for fresh consumption) annually. ● Washington ranks first in the nation for sweet cherry production. ● As of 2001, there were 29,000 acres of sweet cherries in the state: 20,000 in full production and 9,000 non-bearing acres. Three hundred acres of Washington's sweet cherries are organically grown. ● For 1996 through 2000, annual production averaged about 78 thousand tons, with an average 60 thousand tons sold as fresh and the remainder processed as frozen or canned cherries. In 2001, 70,000 tons were sold on the fresh market while 30,000 tons were processed. It is predicted that sweet cherry production will reach 140,000 tons per year before 2008. ● Average sweet cherry production in Washington is five tons per acre with well-managed orchards producing between seven and ten tons per acre. Production of ten to fourteen tons is possible in newer orchards. ● The annual farmgate value of Washington sweet cherries is estimated to be between $130 and $180 million. The total value for packed boxes and processed product sales is $215 million. The value to the grower for an acre of cherries ranges from $4,000 to $14,000 with processing cherries worth 30 % to 40 % of the value of fresh market cherries. ● Annual production costs per acre for sweet cherries range between $6,800 and $8,300. ● One quarter of Washington's sweet cherry crop is exported annually