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State Analyses 3
(The Tart Cherry Industry - continued)
Oregon
although Oregon produced only 1.6 million pounds of tart cherries in
1995, the state's production averaged 7.1 million pounds over the
1990-94 period. The value of the Oregon crop averaged $1.4 million
between 1990 and 1994, ranging from $0.4 million to $2.4 million.
Oregon accounted for about 2.6 percent of U.S. tart cherry output
over this period.
Oregon’s tart cherries are located in the Willamette Valley in
western Oregon. The largest concentration of trees is located in
central Polk and Yamhill counties, but cherry orchards may be found
throughout the length of the valley. The Willamette Valley has a
climate adapted to the production of most deciduous fruits and nuts,
including tart cherries.
In addition to tart cherries, producers in the Valley also grow sweet
cherries, plums, prunes, and hazelnuts. The production of sweet
cherries, plums, and prunes is complementary with tart cherries in
that the same harvesting equipment is used for all three crops,
thereby extending the utilization of this fixed investment. Some
tart cherry producers also produce field crops such as grass seed,
but most specialize in tree fruits and nuts (Olsen).
As in Michigan, Montmorency is the standard variety in Oregon.
Growers are trying a number of other varieties on a trial basis, but
none accounts for a notable amount of production at this time.
Virtually all of Oregon's production is sold for canning and
freezing.
Tart cherries are grown on a variety of soil types and terrains in
Oregon. Orchards on the valley floor have relatively flat topography
and are produced in loamy soils with good water-holding capacity.
Orchards in elevated areas tend to have sloping topography, which
provides more frost protection than on the valley floor. The soils
in the more elevated orchards, however, tend to be less productive
than in the valley floor, being either too heavy or too draughty for
good orchard sites.
The most serious production peril in Oregon is extended cold, wet
weather that prevents insect activity during the critical bloom
period. Such conditions have dominated the weather during the bloom
period in three of the last five seasons, resulting in low yields due
to poor pollination.
Extended wet weather also increases the likelihood of serious disease
problems causing crop losses. The most destructive cherry disease is
brown rot blossom blight, which can “explode” in the orchard during
the blossom period if growers are unable to apply and keep fungicides
on the blossoms. The Oregon Extension Service recommends three
different applications of fungicide sprays targeted to brown rot
during the bloom period.
Occasionally, tart cherries are damaged by late spring frosts in
Oregon. But, this peril does not appear to be as much of a threat in
Oregon as it does in Michigan.
Hail occasionally damages tart cherries in Oregon. Oregon's orchards
are located west of the Cascade Mountain range, where hail occurs
less frequently than in the central and eastern United States.
At times, tart cherries in Oregon are damaged by high winds, which
can cause scarring of the fruit. Winds usually are not strong
enough, however, to damage the trees.
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