JUNE 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Frosted fruits don’t mean a bad harvest
COLUMBIA GORGE
Despite a series of cold snaps in April, most of Oregon’s
Columbia Gorge fruit crop seems to have survived intact.
Earlier news reports warned that the unusually cold weather
could decimate the region’s valuable apple, pear and
cherry crops, which would then raise prices at the market and
endanger the solvency of some growers.
Cherries in Wasco County were hit a little harder than pears
and apples in the Hood River area, says Jeff Heater, chairman
of the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers association. Though one
farm did lose up to 90% of its crop, 40 growers in the region
are expecting 85% of normal cherry production, he says.
Harvest time, usually in mid-June, will be about a week late.
“Every week that goes by the picture gets a little bit
clearer,” Heater says of the weather damage to the
crops.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, the Columbia Gorge has seen an
explosion of growers converting their acres from wheat to
cherry trees because cherries are more lucrative, Heater
says.
In 2006, Oregon’s cherry harvest was worth $49 million,
according to the state Department of Agriculture (DOA).
But growing cherries is a risky business because their
blossoms are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Also, if
it’s below 55 degrees, or too windy, the bees will not
pollinate the buds, Heater says.
“Cherry growers really roll the dice,” says DOA
spokesman Bruce Pokarney.
JASON SHUFFLER
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