Experts predict cherry crop will be late but plentiful
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POLSON — July in the Flathead means cherries: sweet dark-red Lamberts, Lapins and Bings, or blushing yellow Rainiers. The cold winter and cool rainy spring have delayed this year’s crop, though. Dale Nelson, president of the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers, predicts the cherries will ripen around the end of July.
“It’s looking like it’ll be later than it has been in the last 10 years,” Nelson said, noting that usually they start picking cherries on the south shore or near Polson about July 17 or 18.
“I’m thinking picking won’t start until the 27th or 28th,” Nelson estimated, and those cherries will be in Polson or on the south shore.
Monson Fruit Company field representative Brian Campbell agreed. There should be plenty of cherries he said, and a really good quality crop.
June was pretty ideal cherry weather according to Campbell, who said cherries like rain early in their development. Warmer July temperatures will now allow them to ripen.
Traditionally, Washington cherries ripen earlier than Flathead cherries, but their crop is also delayed, Nelson explained. If Washington has a bumper crop, that can impact the Polson area by reducing the demand. Early predictions called for a big Washington crop, but now the forecasts are dropping — good news for Polson cherry farmers.
Campbell and Nelson both think the normal-to-slightly-smaller-sized crop will result in big fruit. Bigger cherries have more market desirability, ship better and hold up better.
“America likes big stuff,” Nelson explained.
As Flathead cherries reach peak season, customers can drive up the lake along Hwy. 35 to purchase the sweet, juicy fruit from their favorite cherry stand.
