NW Cherry Growers urge retail promotion as season winds down

Northwest Cherry Growers BB #:162657 released this crop update July 28, 2026:

As the Northwest cherry season begins to wind down and volumes are slowing, that doesn’t mean the season is over.

There is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy one of summer’s sweetest traditions. While harvest is wrapping up in several regions and available supplies are becoming more limited, Northwest Cherries continue to deliver the exceptional flavor, size, and quality consumers have come to expect.

The final weeks of the season are an important time to keep Northwest Cherries front and center. Retailers are encouraged to continue promoting cherries while supplies last and remind shoppers to stock up and preserve the taste of summer by freezing cherries before the season comes to a close.

The 2026 Rainier cherry season is slowly coming to an end. While this year’s Rainier crop was smaller than usual and the harvest window wrapped up earlier than normal, demand remained strong from start to finish.

Northwest growers shipped approximately 1.1 million 15-pound equivalent boxes this season, compared to 2.3 million boxes in 2025. The decline in volume was primarily the result of weather-related impacts, including wind and rain damage that affected the 2026 crop.

As Rainiers exit the market, there is still time to enjoy premium Northwest dark sweet cherries. Quality and flavor remain outstanding, and promotable volumes are still available. Continue promoting Northwest Cherries while supplies last and encourage shoppers to savor the final weeks of the season.