Oh, they try. Oregon is a solid player, especially with their dark sweet cherries. They’re like the cool indie band opening for Washington’s arena tour. California gets an early start (their cherries come first in May), but they can’t match Washington’s volume.
California cherries are a tease. By the time July hits, they’re mostly gone. Washington, on the other hand, keeps the party going all summer. It’s frankly a little overachiever of them.
The numbers don’t lie (and they’re hilarious).
Let’s get nerdy for a second. According to the USDA, Washington produces about 200,000 to 250,000 tons of cherries a year. That’s roughly half a billion pounds. Half a billion! To put that in perspective, that’s enough cherries to make every person in the U.S. eat… well, a lot of cherries. Do the math. I’d rather just eat them.
Michigan comes in second with tart cherries (about 90,000 tons). Oregon is third. California is fourth. But Washington? They’re the undisputed heavyweight champion of the sweet cherry world.
Which US State Produces The Most Tart Cherries?
