Northwest 2026 cherry season was smaller, less predictable

October 8, 2026 — The Northwest Cherry Growers BB #:162657 has been working to reconcile shipment tonnage across our 5-State production region.

In addition, we’ve been reviewing and measuring program performance in both domestic and export markets.

Our final shipment total for the 2026 season was 18,201,275 (20-lb. equivalent) boxes, compared to the season estimate of 18.4 to 19.2 million boxes.

The 2026 cherry season was anything but predictable. Crop estimates shifted throughout the season as weather took its toll, leaving many expecting a much smaller final crop.

But when the season wrapped and the final numbers were tallied, the result surprised us all. With combined Northwest and California production at 23.2 million boxes, 2026 marked a significant shift in West Coast supply. After three consecutive years of reaching 28 million boxes, the 2026 crop fell well below that level, creating a very different supply environment for the industry.

Click here to view the full 2026 Post-Season Review, which provides a detailed look at crop volume, timing, and market performance.

The Northwest crop is moving more volume earlier in the season than it has historically. This season, we hit our peak on June 19th. Over the past two seasons, we’ve shipped more than 2.4 million boxes in the first 14 days; that is about 71% more volume than 5 years ago.

This shift requires the industry to plan on front-loaded retail promotions. Retailers should be prepared to promote aggressively as promotable volume builds, helping to move fruit while supply is at its highest and creating strong momentum for the remainder of the season.