San Joaquin County filed a disaster declaration with the state Office of Emergency Services this week.
The declaration seeks to bring aid to cherry growers who face predictions of a catastrophically poor predicted harvest of one of the county’s most important agricultural products.
County Agricultural Commissioner Kamal Bagri told Stocktonia she requested a “Cherry Disaster Declaration” from the state “due to a 43.41% decrease in yield of the cherry crop.”
She cited both spring rains and higher-than-usual temperatures for interfering with the pollination and development of the fruit.
The annual harvest is just beginning, but the scuttlebutt among cherry growers is that the harvest could be perhaps as much as half of the normal amount in the county and the entire San Joaquin Valley, said James Chinchiolo, first vice president of the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau Federation.
“The volume is down. That’s not welcome information for us cherry growers,” said Chinchiolo, whose Chinchiolo Farm Co. operates Lodi Blooms, a 40-acre cherry orchard in Lodi.
The good news, he said, is that cherry prices are higher this year for growers lucky enough to have a decent crop. Also, the quality of the harvested cherries is expected to be good.
The California Cherry Board, a marketing organization representing 850 growers and 22 packers in the state, says cherry season is relatively short, beginning in mid-May and lasting through June. San Joaquin County is the state’s top cherry-producing region.
Bagri’s most recent annual crop report listed cherries as the county’s fourth most valuable farm product, behind milk, grapes and almonds — with a value of $273.4 million in 2023.
Chinchiolo said the county’s soil, nourished by river water, and the climate of warm days followed by cool evenings are ideal for cherries. But during the past year, the weather has conspired against growers.
Blistering summer heat, which produced 41 days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, diminished the potential crop. Strong winds also hindered the ability of insects like bees to carry pollen from flower to flower.
“We are seeing heat stress from last year. And also during the bloom, there was quite a bit of wind,” Chinchiolo said.
On his own farm, Chinchiolo said he plans to make the most of the season by giving priority to his best customers.
“I am going to take care of my most loyal customers, the ones who have demonstrated commitment to me,” he said. “It comes down to strong relationships.”
As always, though, Chinchiolo invites the public to his groves to pick their own cherries, an opportunity that begins Friday. Because of the limited supply, however, he said he can’t be sure how quickly his trees will be picked of all their fruit and he will have to turn potential customers away.
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