Seasonal Sweetness: Heat speeds cherry harvest

The Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Cooperative says cherries are coming early this year. The local harvest is expected to start 10 days to two weeks earlier than normal.

Bruce Johnson, president of the cooperative, said Washington had an early harvest also. This means Flathead growers won’t be picking in the middle of another state’s season, which will be good for sales. However, Johnson said the Flathead’s harvest could be sooner than even he suspects. “Really hot weather tends to speed up the ripening process,” Johnson said. “After this weekend we might have a different estimate.”

Picking of the Flathead Lake cherry crop usually begins around the Fourth of July. Heat, like the 100-degree temperatures expected at the end of this week, does not damage the trees: drooping leaves recover with cool summer nights. It does soften fruit. Although Flathead cherries will hit shelves sooner, Johnson noted they aren’t there yet. He suspects any current roadside stands to be stocked with the earlier Washington cherries. “If people are in doubt, they should just ask ‘Are these local?’” Johnson said.