The cherry harvest in the Northwest has experienced an exceptional year, with growers reporting high quality and favorable prices. In the early hours of July 16, 2025, foreign guestworkers, equipped with headlamps and ladders, diligently picked organic Sweetheart cherries at a Tieton orchard owned by Allan Brothers Fruit. The combination of ideal weather conditions and strong retail prices has brought welcome relief to an industry valued at nearly $1 billion, following several challenging years.
According to Karley Lange, director of domestic promotion for Northwest Cherry Growers, this year’s harvest is projected to yield around 22.5 million 20-pound boxes, translating to approximately 225,000 tons of cherries. This figure surpasses initial estimates made in May and significantly exceeds last year’s total of 19.5 million boxes. Lange noted, “The retail prices were struggling in the beginning, but the crop has been excellent in quality and in size.”
Retail prices faced initial challenges due to a delayed California crop, which did not meet the demand for cherries typically available around Memorial Day. This led retailers to keep prices elevated, as cherries remain a high-value item in the produce section. Despite these early hurdles, growers have since benefited from improved pricing, especially notable for companies like Allan Brothers.
Travis Allan, a third-generation fruit grower, expressed optimism about the current season. “Every card we’ve pulled out of the deck has been a winner,” he said, highlighting the expansion of their operations that now include a packing facility and multiple growing sites. The moderate heat and minimal precipitation have contributed to the quality of the harvest, with cherries ripening at optimal times. Allan remarked, “The quality you can grow with these temperatures is excellent.”
Potential tariffs introduced by the Trump Administration present an ongoing uncertainty for growers. While negotiations on these tariffs have been paused until August, Lange emphasized that many growers are planning accordingly. Cherries, unlike apples, have a limited shelf life, necessitating timely shipments tied to the harvest. The current export market sees significant activity, particularly with Canada and China, two of the largest markets for Northwest cherries.
For the 2024 season, the value of the Pacific Northwest cherry harvest reached $944.9 million, a substantial increase from $697 million in 2023. The industry previously peaked at a ten-year high of $1.1 billion in 2020, according to the Northwest Horticultural Council.
As of mid-July, approximately 35% of the cherry crop has been shipped to foreign markets, with plans to increase shipments ahead of potential tariffs. The domestic market has also remained strong, particularly for premium varieties such as Rainier and organic cherries.
The labor market for cherry picking has become increasingly challenging. Pedro Angeles, a manager at Allan Brothers, oversees a team of around 100 pickers, mostly foreign guestworkers under the H-2A program. Despite the early start to avoid heat, labor shortages have been reported, with domestic worker availability down by as much as 40% this year. Angeles mentioned that while the company employs both guest and domestic workers, attracting local labor has proven difficult.
Changes in labor laws, such as new overtime regulations in Washington state, have increased operational costs for growers, prompting some to reduce harvest days. In contrast, Oregon has seen fewer labor shortages, as the state offers more housing and child care options for domestic workers.
The situation reflects broader trends within the agricultural labor market. According to Antonio De Loera, director of communications for United Farm Workers, many local workers are finding better opportunities in states like Oregon, where there is less competition from foreign guestworkers. This shift further complicates the labor dynamics in Washington.
As the cherry harvest progresses, the industry remains optimistic about its prospects, despite the challenges posed by tariffs and labor shortages. Growers are keenly aware of the evolving landscape and are preparing to adapt to the changes that lie ahead.
