Weather Delays Washington Cherries

YAKIMA — Planning to have a bowl of juicy red Yakima Valley cherries on your Memorial Day menu? Sorry, but you might have to look elsewhere for the fruit: This year’s Northwest cherry harvest won’t start until the middle of next month. That’s in sharp contrast to last year when harvest started in late May. Cooler temperatures have pushed back harvest by several weeks, said James Michael, who oversees domestic promotions for Northwest Cherry Growers, which represents growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana. While there’s a longer wait, once the region’s cherries arrive, there will be more than ample opportunity for consumers to get their fix. “From a consumer standpoint, they’ll have plenty of cherries available for the Fourth of July,” he said. And for much of the summer months.