Cherry Growers Happy With Huge Crop

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — Northwest cherry growers brought in a record crop over the summer. The crop of 23 million 20-pound boxes edged out the previous record set in 2012.

The Washington State Fruit Commission says state growers produced about 80 percent of the crop, which also included cherries from Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah.

Commission Vice President James Michael says 2014 also was one of the best years for the quality of the fruit.

Michael says the Northwest sent 32 percent of the cherry crop to other countries, with top customers in Canada, Korea, China, and Hong Kong.

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