Northwest Cherry Crop Could Set New Early Record This Year

NWNews | By Anna King

Published March 17, 2015 at 3:43 PM PDT

The region's recent stretch of warm weather means Northwest sweet cherries will likely be going early to market this year.

Don Olmstead Jr. and his son, Don Olmstead III, farm together in Grandview, Washington. Don Jr. said this is probably the earliest he’s seen his cherry blossoms peeking out from beneath their green-bud hoodies.

But there is one problem with this very early emergence. Over the next few months, the blossoms could get frosted at night. That means the Olmsteads will likely be sleepless for weeks.

They’ll fight the cold with water mists and large fans.

Don Olmstead Jr. splits open a cherry blossom flower to reveal the beginnings of a Northwest sweet cherry.

Don Olmstead Jr. and his son Don Olmstead III farm cherries together.

Regional News

Anna King

Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.

See stories by Anna King