Prepared: July 19, 1999 Revised: September 7, 1999 Crop Profile for Cherries (Sweet) in Oregon General Production Information Oregon ranks second nationally for sweet cherry production, just behind Washington and narrowly ahead of California. Sweet cherries from Oregon account for 22.4% of the national market. The 11,261 harvested acres yield 41,800 tons of fruit with a cash value between $46 56 million. The total per acre production cost of Willamette Valley sweet cherries is $2,756.67. Processors brine 56% of Oregon s sweet cherry crop, turning the fruit into maraschino cherries. The fresh cherry market, which is the primary fruit destination nationally, is second in Oregon, commanding 30% of the harvest. The remaining crop is canned, juiced, frozen, or fermented. Production Regions The Pacific states Washington, Oregon, and California are the leading sweet cherry areas. Michigan and Canada also have significant acreages. Oregon's Columbia River counties produce the greatest tonnage. These counties, in order of production, are Wasco (which leads the state with 30,600 tons), Hood River, and Umatilla. Willamette Valley sweet cherry orchards (in order of production) are Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Lane, and Washington Counties. Union County in eastern Oregon and Douglas County in southern Oregon also have reportable production figures (3). Oregon has 871,500 sweet cherry trees the third most numerous fruit tree in the state, behind pear and apple (6). Cultural Practices Sweet cherries are best suited to an intermediate climate but will tolerate considerable winter cold. They have a chilling requirement of 800 1200 hours of temperatures below 45 F. Trees take 5 years to reach bearing age, and their life expectancy is 30 35 years. Well-drained soil prevents root rots (7). Cherries grow as a dryland crop in Wasco County where annual precipitation is 18 inches per year. They are one of the few fruits that can be grown without irrigation. However, fruit quality improves with regular watering (8). The time from sweet cherry bloom to harvest is 60 to100 days with an average of 70 days. In Hood River County, trees grown at 500 feet elevation have an average growing season of 183 days; trees grown at 1,700 feet elevation have an average growing season of 143 days (9). Willamette Valley pest control in sweet cherries is different from pest control in the Columbia area. Both have nine bud or tree growth stages that determine pest control needs (10, 11). The Crop Profile/PMSP database, including this document, is supported by USDA NIFA.
Insect Pests Insects and mites found in Oregon sweet cherries include aphids, fruit flies, sawflies, moths, leafrollers, leafhoppers, leafminers, borers, thrips, beetles, scales, and rust mites. Cherry slugs, which are not true slugs, can also invade orchards (10, 12). Chemical controls: Growers apply 354,300 pounds of insecticides to 96% of cherry acreage (13). In 1997, Oregon growers reported use of the following insecticides (14): Insecticide Brand name Area treated (%) Number of s crop year Total (by 1,000 lb) B.t. Javelin 40 1.5 carbaryl Sevin 13 1.7 1.31 2.27 2.9 chlorpyrifos Lorsban 65 1.0 1.94 2.20 13.4 dimethoate Cygon 15 1.2 1.03 1.19 1.9 malathion Cythion 57 4.4 1.14 5.00 29.3 methyl parathion petroleum distillate Penncap 3 2.0 0.42 0.85 0.3 Superior Oil 72 1.2 33.33 41.03 302.7 phosmet Imidan 7 1.0 1.18 1.19 0.8 Growers also apply these insecticides to combat pests: diazinon, endosulfan (Thiodan), methoxychlor (Marlate), diflubenzuron (Dimilin), azinphos-methyl (Guthion), and fenbutatin-oxide (Vendex). They use the greatest amounts of petroleum distillates in the form of dormant oils. NASS estimates that cherry growers apply 302,700 pounds of oil to Oregon sweet cherries every year (10, 15). The National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy database at University of Illinois lists over 200,000 pounds of oil applied annually, confirming this high petroleum distillate (dormant oil) use (16). For more details on insect control in Oregon sweet cherries, see the 1999 PNW Insect Control Handbook, pages 147 153. (Go to http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/ for ordering information.)
Cherry fruit fly is the major insect pest of Oregon sweet cherries. Due to California Department of Agriculture regulations, there is a zero tolerance for this pest in Oregon cherries. Aerial s of malathion (Cythion) are the preferred and most effective method of control. Ground s of azinphos-methyl (Guthion) and carbaryl (Sevin) are not used season long due to time restraints. In the mid-columbia, large orchards consisting of 200 400 acres or more do not lend themselves to timely, regular ground s. Dimethoate (Cygon) is often used on brining cherries in the Willamette Valley, but since it is not allowed for fresh cherries being exported to Japan, it is not generally used in the mid-columbia area. OSU has researched the use of mating disruption for leafroller control, but consistent control has not been attained. No other alternatives have been found for pests in cherries (17). Biological controls: Naturally-occurring parasitoids will control leafminers in some orchards in some years, but this method does not attain consistent control (8). Diseases Many sweet cherry diseases are location dependent. A number of rots, cankers, blight, and gall are influenced by moisture. Verticillium wilt, brown rot, and powdery mildew infest not only sweet cherries but also many other crops (19). Chemical controls: In 1997, Oregon growers reported use of the following fungicides (14): Fungicide Brand name Area treated (%) Number of s crop year Total (by 1,000 lb) benomyl Benlate 18 1.2 0.49 0.58 1.1 calcium polysulfide lime sulfur 1 1.5 7.64 11.38 1.6 captan Captan 17 1.3 1.67 2.20 3.9 chlorothalonil Bravo 3 1.3 3.74 4.76 1.5 copper hydroxide copper oxychloride sulfate Champ 18 1.4 3.25 4.71 8.7 Copro 7 1.0 4.7 4.82 3.3 copper sulfate blue vitriol 7 1.0 4.70 4.82 3.3
fenbuconazole Enable 8 1.5 0.09 0.14 0.1 iprodione Rovral 20 1.3 0.74 0.93 1.9 myclobutanil Rally 51 1.3 0.12 0.15 0.8 propiconazole Banner 10 1.1 0.11 0.13 0.1 sulfur Sulfur 68 1.2 9.35 11.12 78.1 vinclozolin Ronilan 5 1.2 0.70 0.81 0.5 ziram Ziram 5 1.5 3.99 5.88 2.9 Sweet cherry growers applied 106,000 pounds of fungicide to 88% of their acres (13). For more details on disease control in Oregon sweet cherries, see An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control, http://pnwhandbooks.orst.edu/guide1998/index.htm (20). Cultural controls: Growers often use cultural controls to reduce the incidence and severity cherry diseases. They paint the young cherry tree trunks to reduce southwest injury (so named because it generally occurs on the southwest side of the trunk) and subsequent bacterial canker infection. Summer pruning is also used for this purpose. Careful watering and frost control also reduce the incidence of this disease (8). Farmers also prune to open the trees to better air circulation, reducing the incidence and severity of powdery mildew and brown rot (8). Post harvest: Specialists use strains of yeast microflora naturally found on fruit (apples, pears, and cherries) to combat fungal diseases in stored fruit. Such techniques can reduce fungicide use by 99%. The yeast out competes the disease organisms that cause fruit rot by using up all the resources that the fungal pathogens need to thrive (21). Packing houses currently use Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to greatly reduce the incidence of post-harvest rots in cherries (22). Nematodes Dagger, ring, and root-lesion nematodes attack Oregon sweet cherries (19). Chemical controls: Soil fumigation is the most common remedy for nematodes; growers apply 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone), metam sodium (Vapam), or methyl bromide (Brom-O-Gas) (19). For more details on disease control in Oregon sweet cherries, see An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control, http://pnwhandbooks.orst.edu/guide1998/index.htm (20).
Other In 1997, Oregon growers reported use of the following other pesticides (14): Pesticide Brand name Area treated (%) Number of s crop year Total (by 1,000 lb) ethephon Asana 4 1.2 0.39 0.45 0.2 gibberellic acid ProGibb 46 1.0 0.08 0.08 0.4 Gibberellic acid (ProGibb) is a plant growth regulator that workers apply to cherry trees to adjust ripening times and produce brighter, firmer, larger cherries (23). Farmers applied 600 pounds of other chemicals to 50% of the sweet cherry acres (13). Weeds The vegetation in unplanted orchards, newly-planted areas, and established orchards is very different. Growers also use different methods to get rid of unwanted species. Chemical controls: In 1997, Oregon growers reported use of the following herbicides (14): Herbicide Brand name Area treated (%) Number of s crop year Total (by 1,000 lb) 2,4-D 2,4-D 27 1.3 1.04 1.36 3.7 glyphosate Roundup 59 1.9 1.10 2.07 12.6 oryzalin Surflan 23 1.0 1.94 1.94 4.6 oxyfluorfen Goal 19 1.0 0.67 0.67 1.3 simazine Princep 2 1.0 0.77 0.77 0.1 Growers use glyphosate the most, since it can be used in site preparation, chemical mowing, as a wipe, or a
postemergence contact and translocated herbicides. Growers also use dichlobenil (Casoron) and paraquat (Gramoxone.) Cherry growers applied 22,600 pounds of herbicides to 69% of the sweet cherry acres (13). For more details on weed control in Oregon sweet cherries, see Weed & Vegetation Exchange for Orchards at http://www. orst.edu/dept/hort/weeds/orchherb.htm (18). Darrell Hanan Blue Mountain Growers, Inc. P.O. Box 158 Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 541-938-3391 Terrie Heer Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission 2340 Miller Farm Road Woodburn, OR 97071 503-982-4217 Bruce Kiyokawa Diamond Fruit Growers, Inc. P.O. Box 180 Hood River, OR 97031 541-354-5300 Lynn Long Wasco County Extension 400 E. Scenic Dr., Suite #2.278 The Dalles, OR 97058 Lynn.Long@orst.edu Eugene Mielke and Tim Facteau Mid-Columbia Agriculture Research & Extension Center 3305 Experiment Station Dr. Hood River, OR 97031 Eugene.Mielke@orst.edu Timothy.Facteau@orst.edu Thom Nelson Hood River Grower-Shipper Assoc. P.O. Box 168 Odell, OR 97044 541-354-2565 Jeff Olsen Yamhill-Polk-Marion Country Extension Contacts
2050 Lafayette Street McMinnville, OR 97128-9333 Jeff.Olsen@orst.edu References 1. Crop Profile for Commodity in State. (http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/cropprofiles/ instructions.html (accessed Feb 1999). 2. 1997 Oregon County and State Agricultural Estimates, Special Report 790; Oregon State University Extension Service: Corvallis, OR, revised July 1998. 3. Commodity Data Sheet, Sweet Cherries, 5110-97; Oregon State University Extension Service, Extension Economic Information Office: Corvallis, OR, March 1998. 4. Enterprise Budget, Cherries, Sweet, Willamette Valley Region; EM 8506; Oregon State University Extension Service: Corvallis, OR, March 1992. 5. Markle, G.M.; Baron, J.J.; Schneider, B.A. Food and Feed Crops of the United States, Second Edition; Meister Publishing Co.: Willoughby, OH, 1998. 6. Oregon Fruit Tree Inventory, 1993. http://www.oda.state.or.us/oass/fruitree.htm (accessed June 1998). 7. Stebbins, R.L.; Walheim, L. Western Fruit, Berries & Nuts, HP Books, Inc.: Tucson, AZ, 1981. 8. Long, L. Wasco County Extension, The Dalles, OR. Personal communication, June 1, 1999. 9. The Hood River Valley: Oregon's Largest Fruit Growing District; Hood River Grower-Shipper Association: Odell, OR, 1998. 10. Cherry 1998 Pest Management Guide for the Mid-Columbia, Revised February 1998. http://www.osu.orst.edu/dept/ hort/orchardnet/mccpm98b.html (accessed Feb 1999), EM8203 (excerpt), revised for the internet July 1998. 11. Cherry 1998 Pest Management Guide for the Willamette Valley, revised March 1998. http://www.osu.orst.edu/dept/ hort/orchardnet/wvcpm98.html (accessed Feb 1999), revised for the internet July 1998. 12. Pacific Northwest Insect Control Handbook; Extension Services of Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho: Corvallis, OR, 1998. 13. 1997 1998 Oregon Agriculture & Fisheries Statistics; Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture: Portland, OR, December 1998. 14. Agricultural Chemical Usage, 1997 Fruits Summary; Ag Ch 1(98); National Agricultural Statistic Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture: Washington, D.C., July 1998. 15. Kiyokaway, B. Diamond Fruit Growers, Inc., Hood River, OR. Personal communication, June 18, 1999. 16. NCFAP Pesticide Use in Various Commodities. http://piked3.agn.uiuc.edu/scripts/ 15questw.exe?Template (accessed Nov 1998).
17. Biology and Control of the Cherry Fruit Flies: A Worldwide Perspective; Special Report 971; Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station: Corvallis, OR, December 1996. 18. Weed & Vegetation Exchange for Orchards, OSU, WSU, & UI Extensions Cooperating. http://www.orst.edu/dept/ hort/weeds/orchherb.htm (accessed July, 1999) 19. Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Control Handbook; Extension Services of Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho: Corvallis, OR, 1998. 20. An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control, Oregon State University http://pnwhandbooks.orst.edu/guide1998/index. htm (accessed July 1999). 21. Yeasts reduce need for chemical fungicides in stored fruit. http://eesc.orst.edu/ agcomwebfile/news/fruitandnut/ storedfruit.html (accessed Feb 1999), News & Features, Oregon State University Extension & Experiment Station Communications, May 13, 1998. 22. Quality of Fresh Market Sweet Cherries. Report to Agricultural Research Foundation for the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission, 1994-1995, p. 20. 23. The Pesticide Manual, Eleventh Edition; Tomlin, C.D.S., Ed.; British Crop Protection Council, BCPC Publication: UK, 1997. Acknowledgements: This crop profile was prepared by P. Thomson, W. Parrott, and J. Jenkins, Agricultural Chemistry Extension, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University. The appendix was prepared by D. Hanan, Blue Mountain Growers, Inc. The information was reviewed by T. Heer, Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission; B. Kiyokawa, Diamond Fruit Company; L. Long, Wasco County Extension; E. Mielke, Mid-Columbia Agriculture Research & Extension Center; and J. Olsen, Yamhill County Extension. Appendix Milton-Freewater Sweet Cherry Production Profile, June 16, 1999 Darrell Hanan Blue Mountain Growers, Inc. P.O. Box 158 231 E. Broadway Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 541-938-3391 The Milton-Freewater area of Northeastern Oregon produces sweet cherries on approximately 250 acres. The majority of this cherry production is sold as fresh produce domestically. The average time from sweet cherry bloom until harvest is 80 100 days. The Milton-Freewater area sweet cherry insects are aphids, cherry fruit fly, leafrollers, leafminers, white apple leafhopper, and tree borers. CHEMICAL CONTROL AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL
azinphos-methyl (Guthion) B.t. carbaryl (Sevin) chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) endosulfan (Thiodan) petroleum distillates 350 lbs. 800 lbs. 10 gallons 100 gallons 20 lbs. 1,000 gallons The Milton-Freewater area sweet cherry diseases are Coryneum blight, bacterial gummosis, and brown rot. CHEMICAL CONTROL copper hydroxide fenbuconazole (Indar) zinc (10%) AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL 1,800 lbs. 26 lbs. 200 gallons The Milton-Freewater area sweet cherry weed control products are: CHEMICAL CONTROL 2,4-D glyphosate (Roundup) paraquat (Gramoxone) AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL 30 gallons 125 gallons 125 gallons The Milton-Freewater area sweet cherry nematode control is performed by about 40% of the growers only when replanting orchards. Other chemicals are not applied to cherries in this area. Database and web development by the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Managment located at North Carolina State University. All materials may be used freely with credit to the USDA.