Record state cherry harvest spurs new harvesting methods
BUENA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state cherry farmers expect their crop to continue to break harvest records in the coming years, prompting a rethinking of harvesting techniques.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that the Pacific Northwest cherry industry harvested more than 23 million boxes of cherries in 2012.
Because of the expected growth, Washington State University horticulturalist Matt Whiting said cherry farmers can adopt techniques used by apple growers.
"We are looking for that next generation of orchard systems and what growers can do to become more profitable and sustainable," Whiting said.
Whiting organized a tour Thursday showcasing new tree-training systems for cherry growers - techniques their apple-growing counterparts have been using over a longer period of time. The aim is to marry the systems with rootstocks and cherry varieties that allow growers to become more efficient and boost their profitability.
The tour, which attracted about 50 growers, looked at three systems used by grower Ray Wolverton on orchards ranging in age from one to seven years. The most well-known of the systems is called "upright fruiting offshoots."
All three systems on the tour involve the Early Robin cherry variety, a blush variety similar to the more famous Rainier. Early robin is rapidly gaining popularity among growers in the state because it ripens earlier and hits the market sooner.
The upright fruiting offshoots system trains the growth of the trunk and branches. Under the concept, the trees are planted at a 45-degree angle and the trunk is trained along a low wire. Branches grow vertically, taking advantage of a cherry tree's inclination to grow upright where the best fruit is produced. The system creates a wall of fruit, making pruning and harvest easier.
The systems use the dwarfing rootstocks to keep trees small and allow more trees per acre. Smaller trees make pruning and spraying easier and harvesting more efficient by eliminating the need for large ladders that have to be moved regularly.
Some of that increased efficiency likely will come in the form of mechanical harvesting, an advancement Whiting said could be a reality within the next few years. Researchers are using funding under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative in the 2008 federal farm bill to develop a harvesting technique that gently shakes the tree to release the fruit, which is then caught below the tree.
Whiting said among tree fruits grown in the Northwest, cherries are closest to being harvested mechanically because the harvesting method under review is less technical than what apples require.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that the Pacific Northwest cherry industry harvested more than 23 million boxes of cherries in 2012.
Because of the expected growth, Washington State University horticulturalist Matt Whiting said cherry farmers can adopt techniques used by apple growers.
"We are looking for that next generation of orchard systems and what growers can do to become more profitable and sustainable," Whiting said.
Whiting organized a tour Thursday showcasing new tree-training systems for cherry growers - techniques their apple-growing counterparts have been using over a longer period of time. The aim is to marry the systems with rootstocks and cherry varieties that allow growers to become more efficient and boost their profitability.
The tour, which attracted about 50 growers, looked at three systems used by grower Ray Wolverton on orchards ranging in age from one to seven years. The most well-known of the systems is called "upright fruiting offshoots."
All three systems on the tour involve the Early Robin cherry variety, a blush variety similar to the more famous Rainier. Early robin is rapidly gaining popularity among growers in the state because it ripens earlier and hits the market sooner.
The upright fruiting offshoots system trains the growth of the trunk and branches. Under the concept, the trees are planted at a 45-degree angle and the trunk is trained along a low wire. Branches grow vertically, taking advantage of a cherry tree's inclination to grow upright where the best fruit is produced. The system creates a wall of fruit, making pruning and harvest easier.
The systems use the dwarfing rootstocks to keep trees small and allow more trees per acre. Smaller trees make pruning and spraying easier and harvesting more efficient by eliminating the need for large ladders that have to be moved regularly.
Some of that increased efficiency likely will come in the form of mechanical harvesting, an advancement Whiting said could be a reality within the next few years. Researchers are using funding under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative in the 2008 federal farm bill to develop a harvesting technique that gently shakes the tree to release the fruit, which is then caught below the tree.
Whiting said among tree fruits grown in the Northwest, cherries are closest to being harvested mechanically because the harvesting method under review is less technical than what apples require.
When I moved here years ago I was amazed at the price of apples, peaches, and cherries. What the hey...they grow here so you'd expect them to be cheaper. No way. I discovered the best get shipped OVERSEAS!!!!! Then they ship to whoever pays the most stateside. We're left with seconds at some of the hightest prices around. I'm so impressed.
Why do they always have to mess with the growing method to try to improve on the taste or something else and mess it up so it don't taste as good? Then they go and get rid of the old trees and you are left with something you don't even want to buy. They have messed up most of our apples, and peaches already. Most of the new peaches are mushy when canned and don't have a very good flavor. Apples have become mushy not firm and crisp.
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 @yoda All the good apples are shipped out of the state, go to another state and buy a Washington apple and it will taste amazing.
 @Keysontheright Spot on. Apple growers don't hate us, there is good economic reason why we get bad apples. It cost the same to ship good apples as it does bad apples. Good apples demand a higher price so they get shipped. Bad apples stay in Washington.
For years, those of us who have battled against illegal immigration and the exploitation of human labor have advocated many of the long used European mechanized farming techniques. Anything that can be done to stop allowing the agriculture industry to exploit w/ impunity, violate our nation's immigration, labor and child labor laws, is fine by me. It's also unfortunate that this state remains woefully behind the curve in dealing w/ illegal immigration and the companies and growers that exploit human labor. There is ZERO reason why this state cannot advocate partnerships w/ high schools, colleges and universities to give credits or incentives to students to work in the fields during the short harvest seasons, why they refuse to hold growers accountable for following US visa requirements or why they will not make E-verify mandatory and permanent for every employer in this state! I picked cherries and strawberries as a teen and have worked many farm jobs over the years. Yes, it is hard work, but if the employers are required to follow the law, legal immigrant workers and especially US citizens can earn money (and here in WA, with minimum wage being over $9 an hour, there is no reason why a high school or college student couldn't earn a good paycheck). I'm jus' sayin...
 @takncarabizniz I agree. My mom grew up in South Dakota and has told me that picking strawberries was how she earned her spending money. And to be honest I would have no problem doing that kind of work for a decent paycheck.Â
 @Trisha Mulvahill  @takncarabizniz Trisha you are one of the few. I've been on a farm all my life and have watched more and more local kids run away from jobs of this nature as I get older. They'll try it for maybe a day and you never see them again. Much easier to get a machine to do the job as it's always where you left it and it never makes excuses. I do most everything myself. Much less bs.
"Washington state cherry farmers expect their crop to continue to break harvest records in the coming years, prompting a rethinking of harvesting techniques."
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AMERICAN PICKERS
what pickers? They were crying for workers all season long since the feds cracked down on illegals. This will simply mechanize a labor short field.
Not in this state chandler. WA state is a sanctuary state and refuses to properly administer federal immigration laws. BTW, the cry for pickers was a false crisis generated by Olympia and the ag industry to try and make it look like amnesty was our only option. I happen to know that many US citizens attempted, unsuccessfully to get on w/ growers during both the cherry and apple/pear seasons...but growers do not want US citizens, because it would mean adhering to safety, hygiene and labor laws and that is at the crux of the battle and why as taxpayers and voters we must demand that E-verify be made mandatory and permanent for every employer in this country and why we should be advocating mechanized techniques and incentives for the ag industry to use US labor and adhere to the H2A visa program provisions.
@takncarabizniz Yes democrats turn a blind eye in the hope for votes, republicans turn a blind eye for cheap labor and the humans who are only looking to feed their families and maybe a better life are exposed to what most americans wouldn't put up with. Yet many continue to vote for the same people, Hypocrites all.
When government meddles with labor availability, the recourse is to do away with labor - sorry pickers.