A Late But Plentiful Cherry Harvest in the Yakima Fruit Lands

The 2022 Cherry Harvest in the Yakima Valley

Bing, tart, and Rainier cherry harvest is underway in the Pacific Northwest after a delayed start due to cold and wet weather. Normally cherry harvest in the Yakima Valley would be in full swing by mid-June, but this year's harvest is weeks late, pushing the harvest of Washington’s luscious fresh cherries closer to July.

Cherries are the first Washington fruit harvested each year: earlier than apples or wine grapes. Because of their early schedule, sweet cherries are more susceptible to spring weather fluctuations. After pollinating - another delicate dance with spring weather being warm enough for bees to emerge - the tiny cherry buds require consistent warm spring days to swell and develop into fully mature cherries.

When fresh cherries arrive at farmer’s markets at this time of year, you'll hear the excited cry of vendors who cry “Cherry ripe! Cherry ripe!” 

Chukar’s Strategic Location in Washington’s Fruit Lands

Did you know that Chukar Cherries annually processes over 200 tons of fresh cherries yielding over 100,000.00 pounds of naturally dried cherries with no added sugar or preservatives? Headquartered in the Yakima Valley fruit lands in south-central Washington, here at the Chukar Cherry Company, we are in a prime position to source premium fruit year after year.

Beginning in June of each year at the factory headquarters in Prosser, the Chukar team transforms the tree-ripened fruits into naturally dried no sugar added cherries, delicious year ‘round cherry & nut snacks, and chocolate confections—all wonderfully wholesome and delicious.

Time-Sensitive & Labor-Intensive Processing 

At Chukar Cherries, anticipating cherry harvest and getting ready for processing is central to our operations. A month before cherry harvest begins, all equipment for sorting, pitting, and dehydration is checked, upgraded, and cleaned. As the opening of harvest draws near, communication with growers and field managers increases. After harvest, the equipment is again cleaned and checked, with upgrade plans written.

Chukar has a mission critical selection process for purchasing fresh Northwest cherries. Importantly, it’s Chukar’s relationships with family growers, field managers and fruit brokers built over decades that supports the process. Chukar’s fruit is locally grown, and tree ripened. Since the early 90s we’ve worked with a range of growers from small family farmers to large growers to delivery choice cherry varietals with high natural sugar. Specifications in terms of size, internal sugar content, and firmness is central to Chukar’s cherry operations. Every delivery of fresh cherries is checked against the strict requirements.

Ma & Pa Chukar’s Favorite Local Growers

Since the early 90s Chukar Cherries has purchased Rainier cherries from the Scott & Vicky Williams family on Red Mountain in Kiona-Benton. Their Rainier cherries are a pollinator crop for the Williams family and not central to the family’s success story in growing and curating premium wine. Never-the-less, from first meeting Scott & Vicky to this day the relationship has added to Chukar’s fresh cherry coffers and is a source of joy. The Williams grows Rainiers as fine as their wine grapes and it’s always been a treat to enjoy catching up in the springtime.

A Quick History of Washington and Oregon’s Fruit Lands

Agricultural regions develop when natural resources are consistently available: ample clean water, good soil, corresponding temperatures, and a labor pool to harvest and process crops. Washington’s Yakima Valley is an arid high desert region now irrigated by the Roza Irrigation System.

Developed by US Reclamation Service and regional parties over decades, the Yakima-Benton Irrigation Project renamed the is a massive 45,000 acres system sustained by the Yakima River and its tributaries renewed by melted snowpack runoff from nearby mountain ranges. Interestingly, the mighty Columbia River runs parallel about 40-60 miles to the south of the Yakima Valley between Washington and Oregon.

If you come to visit us in Prosser, you'll see the glorious Yakima River running right through the town, which serves as a beautiful reminder of what sustains us as a company and community.