Seven Sweet Facts about Northwest Cherries

July means you will find crimson globes of goodness in your local markets. Cherries are great for your health, providing antioxidants, battling inflammation, and boosting your Vitamin C. Did you know that cherries are also a sweet treat for the region’s economy? And that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the epicenter of Cherry Rush Hour to share these Washington gems with the rest of the world? Take a bite of these facts about Washington state cherries. 

Fact 1: Washington state is the top U.S. producer of sweet cherries

• Oregon and Washington harvest about 60% of the sweet cherry crop in the United States
• The Bing, Lambert, and Rainier varieties together account for more than 95% of the Northwest sweet cherry production
• Turkey is the largest global producer of cherries

Fact 2: Rainier cherries are a true Washington creation

• Named after our favorite mountain, this varietal was created in 1952 by cross-breeding the Bing and Van varieties. It was developed by Dr. Harold W. Fogle of Washington State University in Prosser, Washington. (Source: Washington State Fruit Commission)
• Today Rainier cherries are primarily grown in Washington state and throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon
• Rainier cherries are the only varietal to have their own holiday (July 11), where chefs around the nation prepare cherry recipes. Check out these mouthwatering recipes.

Fact 3: The annual Northwest cherry harvest equals the weight of 2.3 Space Needles
 

Every season Northwest cherry growers harvest 440 million pounds of cherries. How much is that? It’s a lot — the weight equivalent of:

• 2,750 space shuttles the size of Endeavor 
• 147 Giant Sequoia trees
• Almost 20 Eiffel Towers
• 385,965 polar bears

Fact 4: Cherries sweeten the economy of Washington State and the Northwest 

As a valuable export, these delicacies are also the cherry on top of the state economy. The top five foreign markets for exporting Northwest cherries are:

• Canada 32.5%
• China 19%
• South Korea 12.8%
• Taiwan 10.5%
• Southeast Asia 10.2% 

• The exports sales value ranges from $200,000 - $400,000 per year
• The Washington cherry industry sustains 13,000 to 25,000 jobs every year
• The economic impact of the cherry crop to the state is $900 million per year 

Fact 6: SEA Airport is the main hub to get Northwest cherries to global markets 
 

 The Port of Seattle's mission is to facilitate global trade and support our regional economy. And SEA Airport is the hub for getting these valuable products to markets:

• Approximately 20% of the total cherry crop is exported outside of North America
• 98% of all exported cherries are shipped to Asia in the bellies of cargo jets leaving SEA Airport
• Cherries are transported from SEA through three cargo airlines: China Airlines Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, and Air China Cargo
• The value of the annual cherry harvest can range from $68 million to $100 million dollars! 
• During cherry season in July, the air cargo traffic can triple! A typical month sees about 60 air cargo flights; during cherry season, that number swells to 150 freighter flights per month!

Watch a video of air cargo operations bringing cherries to market

Fact 7: Consumers in Asia will pay three to four times more per pound than we do.

• The goal is to get cherries on store shelves in Asia within three days after being picked in Washington! In Japan, Rainier cherries can average $1 to $5 per cherry. (Source: Specialty Produce) 
• Superluxe Rainier cherries are the size of a golf ball and can sell for $10 per cherry in Asia. (P.S. You won’t find them in the Northwest — they’re all exported.)
  (Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Other resources:

• For more fun facts about cherries and recipes, visit the Washington State Fruit Commission cherry website.
• Northwest Cherry Growers 2023 annual report
• HistoryLink on cherries in Washington
   

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