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State Analyses 2
(The Tart Cherry Industry - continued)
Colorado
Colorado produced 1.2 million pounds of cherries in 1995, down from
1.5 million pounds in 1994. The Census of Agriculture reported 65
farms harvesting 1.6 million pounds of tart cherries in Colorado in
1992, up from 62 farms and 1.1 million pounds in 1987. Colorado's
tart cherries had a farm value of $400,000 in 1995.
Colorado's tart cherries are located in Mesa and Delta counties on
the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Superior air drainage due
to the sloping terrain provides a measure of protection against late
spring frosts, making this area adapted for fruit production.
All of Colorado's cherry acreage is irrigated. The majority of the
orchards are equipped with permanent sprinkler systems. Cherry
harvesting in Colorado takes place from early July through the first
week of August.
Cherry producers in Colorado are highly diversified with other
fruits, especially apples, peaches, and pears. Producers rely on
small, locally-owned companies to process their fruit.
Winter temperature extremes are a major peril to tart cherry
production in Colorado (Gaus). Air temperatures can change from
moderate to extremely cold in a matter of hours in western Colorado.
The cherry trees break dormancy during extended periods of warm
weather, reducing their resistance to cold temperatures. Extreme
cold following such warm periods can kill the fruit buds and damage
the branches, limbs, and the trunk.
Hail damage is also a major production peril in Colorado. Yield
losses from hail are spotty, as storms tend to affect relatively
small areas. Hail can cause scarring on the fruit and open wounds
that serve as an entryway for fungal diseases.
New York
New York’s tart cherries are located adjacent to Lake Ontario in
Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, and Wayne counties in western New York
(Figure 4). These four counties accounted for 97 percent of New
York’s production in 1992. Lake Ontario moderates the climate in
these counties, reducing the chances of yield loss due to frosts and
freezes during the critical bloom period.
An estimated 5-10 percent of New York’s tart cherries are irrigated,
depending on moisture conditions. A higher proportion of the cherry
acreage is irrigated during dry seasons than during
wet years. Growers primarily use portable irrigation systems to
supplement natural rainfall as needed.
although harvesting may begin as early as July 10, the most active
harvesting extends from about July 15 through the first of August.
Virtually all of New York’s production is mechanically harvested.
Production averaged 26 million pounds annually from 1991-95.
The most serious production peril affecting New York cherry growers
is frost during the bloom period (Silsby). Being in the more humid
eastern part of the country, leaf spot and brown rot also are a
constant threat in New York orchards, especially during periods of
extended wet weather. Leaf spot can develop rapidly during wet
spells, causing early defoliation and weakening the trees. Hail and
“wind whip” are other perils for which tart cherry producers in New
York would likely seek crop insurance.
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