Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/450509
8 FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com T he 2014 season was not only a record year for Northwest cherries, it was one of the best years for Northwest cherry exports, especially to South Korea, which almost doubled imports from 2012. "Last year was one of our biggest export years ever," said Keith Hu, foreign marketing director for Northwest Cherry Growers, the promotional arm for cherry producers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. Washington State produced 23.2 million 20-pound boxes, its largest crop on record, which made export markets an important factor in moving the crop at profitable returns. About a third of the crop, or 7.5 million boxes, were exported to about 40 countries. Several factors helped Northwest cherry exports, said Hu. "We had a good quality crop and good prices, which helped make our fruit affordable in foreign markets. And, because of the short California cherry crop, importers had pent-up demand. There was high anticipation for our cher- ries, and retailers were very aggressive in marketing cherries." But even with a strong export year, the 1.1 million boxes exported to the Republic of Korea took the Northwest cherry industry by surprise. In 2013, a crop year marred by untimely rains, Northwest cherry producers exported only 490,000 boxes to Korea. In 2012, the first year that import duties were eliminated as part of a free-trade agreement between the United States and Republic of Korea, Northwest cherry producers shipped around 650,000 boxes. Before that, exports to Korea ranged from 250,000 to 350,000 boxes. "I was anticipating around 800,000 boxes last year, so the 1.1 million boxes was a big surprise," said Hu. Canada has been the top importer Big export year for Northwest CHERRIES Korea is a shining star for cherry exports. by Melissa Hansen NORTHWEST CHERRY GROWERS Video and images of Northwest cherries were displayed last summer in the month of July at Gangnam Station in Seoul, South Korea, where more than 400,000 commuters pass daily.