A Cherry Late Harvest For Chukar Cherries

Chukar Cherries, Washington State’s year’ round cherry and berry company is patiently waiting for the sweet cherry harvest. Cherry orchards all over Yakima Valley, Chukar Cherries’ home base, have been dealt an unusually cool and rainy spring. The inclement weather has delayed the ripening of cherries and damaged some crops. For a Cherry Company weather can have major ramifications.

(PRWEB) June 30, 2006 -- Chukar Cherries, Washington State’s year’ round cherry and berry company is patiently waiting for the sweet cherry harvest. Cherry orchards all over Yakima Valley, Chukar Cherries’ home base, have been dealt an unusually cool and rainy spring. The inclement weather has delayed the ripening of cherries and damaged some crops. For a Cherry Company weather can have major ramifications.

“We are not a packing house trying to get cherries out as fast as we can,” said Tom Montgomery, Chukar Cherries CFO. “We take pride in the quality of our cherries and we are willing to wait for them to ripen on the tree to get a premium crop.” In fact Montgomery personally goes to the cherry orchards each spring to test the brix, sugar content, of the cherries before Chukar agrees to purchase any of the harvest.

When the brix measures 25 cherries are sweet and juicy creating the perfect fresh cherry for consumption. Chukar Cherries looks for a brix measurement of 27-28 to dehydrate cherries for year ‘round use. This means Chukar’s cherries can not be harvested too quickly, they must ripen on the branch.

Chukar Cherries customer service department is busy assuring customers across the nation that their fresh cherries will be arriving soon. “Many customers hoped to have Fresh Bing Cherries in time for Father’s Day Gifts, “said Teresa Garcia, Chukar Cherries customer service. This year fresh cherries are going to be delivered later than anticipated.

“We hope to be shipping Fresh Bing Cherries by at least early July,” said Kathleen Young Chukar Cherries Production Manager. When marketing for Fresh Cherries, Chukar’s Marketing Team looks at past harvest dates. It was thought cherries would be ready by mid June. Mother Nature always makes shipping Fresh cherries a guessing game. Cherries are one of nature’s last seasonal fruits. Recent technologies are trying to elongate the span of the cherry harvest but weather is still a huge factor in cherry production. And so, we wait...

Located in the Pacific Northwest, Chukar Cherries is a, family-owned and operated, specialty food manufacturer of pure fruit jams, savory sauces, dried fruit and nut energy snacks, naturally dried and chocolate-covered cherries, berries, and roasted nuts; The Best of Nature, The Best of Chocolate™. Chukar creates delicious gifts that reflect the agricultural bounty and natural flavors of the Pacific Northwest. Chukar Cherries has three retail locations in Washington State; Pike Place Market; Seattle, Prosser Headquarters; Prosser, Tri City Airport Gift Shop; Pasco. 100% natural. KOF-K certified. For quality service, visit www.chukar.com or call 1-800-624-9544 to speak with a customer service representative.

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