Actualidad nacional e internacional
May. 19, 2023![](https://chilealimentos.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/orchards_northwest_699px.jpg)
EE.UU./Washington: cauto optimismo para la cosecha de cerezas, manzanas y peras
Pacific Northwest tree fruit growers are optimistic about this year’s apple, pear and cherry crops.
«What I keep on hearing is cautious optimism,» said Tim Kovis, the Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s spokesman. «After a couple tough growing seasons, folks are optimistic that so far — knock on wood — things have progressed as well as we could have hoped for.»
Because the spring started out cool and wet, blossoms got a slow start, but the sudden warm weather in May led to a «flash bloom.»
Growers say pollination has gone well with no storms or frosts to halt honeybees from flying.
«Pollination weather was really good,» said Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, a large Washington-based producer of apples, pears and cherries.
Later this week, growers from the five Northwest cherry-growing states — Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah — will release an official cherry crop estimate.
Last year’s crop was small, at about 13 million 20-pound boxes due to an April snowstorm. This year, growers predict the crop will fall closer to the 10-year average of 21 million boxes.
«This year, I think we’ll be back to normal,» said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission and Northwest Cherry Growers.
Brenda Thomas, a cherry grower and president of Orchard View Farms in the Dalles, Ore., echoed Thurlby’s positivity.
«Once the spring started, it really started. We feel really optimistic about the crop,» she said.
Mike Omeg, Orchard View Farms’ director of operations, said the Chelan cherry variety especially appears to be setting an above-average crop.
Omeg predicts his team will start picking between June 15 and 20. Many growers in Central Washington estimate a similar timeline.
California is also expected to have a big cherry crop. Due to a wet spring, California growers are picking later than usual, meaning there will be some overlap, but
Northwest growers hope California’s high-quality crop will set a positive tone for retailers and consumers.
Full article: https://bit.ly/43bqsLe
Capitalpress/May 17, 2023
VOLVER A NOTICIAS