Northwest Cherry Crop Tops Out At 18.2M Boxes
While the 2026 Northwest cherry crop may have been a little smaller than expected, growers say they ended up with strong fruit quality. Early season frost, wind and rain reduced the crop to 18.2 million boxes, slightly below preseason estimates of nearly 19 million.
A Smaller Crop Across The West
Combined Northwest and California production totaled 23.2 million boxes, well below the three-year average of 28 million boxes. Industry insiders say the 2026 cherry season was anything but predictable. Crop estimates shifted throughout the season as weather took its toll. But when the season wrapped and the final numbers were tallied, 2026 marked a significant shift in West Coast supply. The smaller crop created a "very different supply environment" for the industry.
There were also more Northwest cherries shipped early, with more than 2.4 million boxes moving in the first two weeks of the season. In addition, 28.5% of this year's entire crop was exported, the lowest figure reported since 2022,
Industry officials say retailers need to time promotions earlier, maintain fresh displays and price cherries to encourage sales while supporting growers. When looking ahead to 2027, Northwest Cherries says the focus is on better aligning crop expectations, promotions, and pricing to strengthen returns for local cherry growers.
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