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MEMBER NEWS

Chukar Cherries: 2019 Northwest Cherry Season Forecast

6/12/2019

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June is a heady time in eastern Washington as cherry harvest commences. Northwest Cherry Growers announced last week that they estimate regional orchards will bring 24.3 million 20-pound box equivalents to market. That figure is a bit of a drop from the May estimates, but still strong. Recent warm weather has growers optimistic that the flavor and quality of cherries will be excellent in 2019. 

Cherry season peaks in July with the sweet morsels gracing grocery store shelves across the U.S. and the world. Washington is the nation’s foremost producer of sweet cherries, with Oregon and California following it. Most cherries in Washington are grown in the Yakima Valley with Chukar’s hometown of Prosser at the epicenter. During the 2019 season, Chukar will take in over 175 tons of fresh cherries from local growers they have partnered with for years. “We’re gearing up for a big season” says Chukar’s General Manager and Prosser native, Tim Oten. “The excitement is palpable as we visit area orchards—talking with growers and checking the fruit for firmness and sugar content.”  

While the hills surrounding Chukar’s factory headquarters and flagship store are lined with vineyards, the valleys between are home to the world’s premier cherry trees—most of which are owned by family farmers. In 1988 Chukar Cherries began on one of those very orchards—and it was watching unpicked cherries sweeten on the tree as they dried in the sun that inspired cherry grower Pam Montgomery to begin drying the cherries naturally. Studies at UC Davis concluded that drying cherries without added sugar or preservatives was not plausible, but Pam believed the natural sugars in tree-ripened cherries were enough. She developed her own natural drying process using a hand-built dehydrator that still dries cherries at Chukar’s original manufacturing facility in Prosser today. 

In addition to their other product lines, Chukar Cherries has recently expanded their organic offerings. The number of acres that have transitioned to organic production continues to rise, but organic cherries accounted for only about 3% of total production in 2018 according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. Partnering with several of these organic orchards, Chukar offers not only USDA Certified Organic dried sweet and tart cherries but also organic chocolate-covered cherries.

Chukar’s organic offerings and Northwest gifts are available online at CHUKAR.COM, at the company’s flagship store in Prosser, in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, and at a host of premier retailers. 
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7130 W Grandridge Blvd., Suite C, Kennewick, WA 99336 USA
Phone: (509) 736-0510 |  Fax: (509) 783-1733 
info@tricityregionalchamber.com
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Photos used under Creative Commons from The National Guard, Gamma Man, US Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Tony Webster, jalexartis, Blue Mountains Library, denisbin, Baker County Tourism
  • Benton Co. Business Resource Initiative
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
    • Member Login
    • Join the Chamber
    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon >
        • Business on a Roll Nomination Form
        • Non-Profit on a Roll Nomination Form
      • Women in Business Conference
      • State of the Cities
      • Tri-Cities Diversity Summit
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day with the Seahawks
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Meet the Chamber
    • Speaking Opportunities
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • BUSINESS PROGRAMS >
      • Ask the Experts
      • Economic Gardening
      • Office Depot Savings Program
      • Small Business Incentive Program
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
    • myTRI 2030
    • Business Advocacy >
      • Public Policy Guiding Principles
      • Business Advocacy Letters
      • Session Spotlight
      • Vote for Business
      • TRI-CITIES LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
    • Ambassador Club
    • LEARN Groups
    • Washington PTAC >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Procurement Power Hour
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • eBlast Advertising
    • Email Updates
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Our Partners >
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities