How climate change and market conditions are taking a toll on Oregon cherry growers

The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission recently sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek asking her to issue a State Disaster declaration for the cherry industry. The commission’s request for assistance follows a similar appeal made by a state lawmaker on behalf of growers in Hood River and Wasco Counties, as reported earlier by the Oregon Capital Chronicle. A wet, cold spring impacted cherry growers not only in Oregon but throughout the West, and led to a glut of cherries from California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia reaching the market at the same time. According to the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission, some farmers in Wasco and Hood River Counties decided to forego harvesting as much as 40% of their crop because of plummeting cherry prices. Ian Chandler is the Chair of the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission and a cherry farmer in The Dalles. Mike Omeg is a cherry farmer and the director of operations at Orchard View in The Dalles. They share details about this year’s harvest and how a disaster declaration could help the industry cope with recent challenges.