Supermarket Perimeter - May 2022 - 59

WHILE A CALIFORNIA FROST, GAS PRICE HIKES AND INFLATION
could negatively impact the 2022 cherry season, growers are optimistic
that the crops available will be of good quality and should warrant the
higher prices they may demand.
The Pacific Northwest experienced a mild winter, said Chuck Sinks,
president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.
However, he said the region was still under the influence of a weak La
Niña in early April, which brought cooler temperatures.
" Overall, the variable weather patterns are lending to good separation
between districts and so far, we haven't seen much frost damage, " he said.
April always is key, Sinks said, as cherry bloom occurs across
Washington and Oregon, with growers keeping a close eye out for
potential freezes.
" All things considered, harvest should fall in line with a typical year,
which is early June, " he added, saying he expected a sizeable crop with
excellent marketing potential.
Sinks said Sage Fruit will see a significant increase in its overall
volume of both dark sweet and Rainier cherries, as it recently formed a
partnership with Chelan Fruit, out of Chelan, Wash. The nearly 3,000acre
farming operation, with its own packing and cold storage facilities,
is one of Washington's leading fruit producers.
Jon Bailey, sales manager of the cherry category for The
One thing for
sure is that costs
are up at all levels,
which is contributing
to trends ebbing
and flowing. We
hope that consumers
continue to see
cherries as that
truly seasonal item
to treat themselves
to when they see
them at retail. "
Jon Bailey, Oppy
Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, B.C., said that because the 2022
season appears to be going well, there is potential for well-sized and
excellent-tasting cherries.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers has the longest cherry
season in the country, said Brianna Shales, senior marketing manager,
kicking things off in California this year in mid-April and running
through the end of August from Washington.
In early April, the company's California cherries were past bloom and
crop set stage, which is a good time to determine crop size, she said.
" It appears that frost in early 2022 impacted cherries in California
and repeating last year's record crop isn't in the cards, " Shales said. " We
expect the industry to ship 5.5-6 million boxes of cherries, which is on
par with the average for the past eight years. "
Rich Sambado, president at Primavera Marketing Inc., a Linden, Calif.based
grower-shipper, agreed that this year's cherry crop out of the
state will be about half the record crop experienced in 2021 (more than
10 million boxes).
" The good news is early fruit is good size, so the final box should be
outstanding, " he said. " But we'll have to provide consumers with greateating
cherries, as they will be more expensive than last year. "
Cherry costs affected
While the market continues to evolve from the pandemic, we have yet
to see where it will land, said Bailey of Oppy.
" One thing for sure is that costs are up at all levels, which is
contributing to trends ebbing and flowing, " he said. " We hope that
consumers continue to see cherries as that truly seasonal item to treat
themselves to when they see them at retail. "
Sinks of Sage Fruit said increased fuel pricing also has the potential to
affect overall product pricing this season.
" With increased fuel costs comes increased freight costs to move
product from the Pacific Northwest to the rest of the world, " he said.
MAY 2022 - 59
OLHA AFANASIEVA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM, CFFA
http://STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Supermarket Perimeter - May 2022

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