Domex Superfresh Growers is enjoying a positive cherry campaign, aided by favorable temperatures during harvest and lower volumes that expected out of California.

Volumes from the Golden State were heavily affected by rain in April and May, significantly reducing volumes from the original estimate of 8 million 15-pound-equivalent boxes.

"We were following the California cherries, and they didn’t do very well this year," Domex marketing coordinator Catherine Gipe-Stewart told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"We want California to do well because that means consumers are excited about a good cherry crop and it will continue onto ours."

But she said this year the lower volumes from the state set up the Northwest well, as there was high demand among retailers when the season kicked off in late May.

Gipe-Stewart added Domex had enjoyed a 'phenomenal' quality this year, with very large fruit sizings.

While there were high temperatures in spring which brought the season forward, the representative said they became far more favorable later on.

"We started in late May about a week early and we’re still looking to go until about August 1. So it's a bit early, as it usually starts around June 1 and lasts till mid-August," she said.

"We had a really hot spring, but then during harvest it hasn’t been that hot, so that’s been really good.

"We’ve had some really nice cool nights especially during the last couple of weeks. Those cool nights and hot days are what the Yakima valley is known for."

Seasonal volumes are currently at their peak for Domex, coinciding for the Fourth of July celebrations.

"Our biggest push is during Fourth of July and we did great during this period," she said.

"Then we will continue pushing through the next couple of weeks because we have the peak of the crop right now, and then it will probably start going down in volume toward the end of the month."

She added the large fruit sizings had also been favorable for exports into key Asian markets like China.

Domex supplies cherries grown in Washington State, Oregon and Montana. In the latter it is the exclusive marketer for cherries produced in the Flathead Lake region.

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