Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

LAKESIDE- A major distribution company based out of Washington state has asked Montana cherry growers to hold off on shipping over Lambert cherries. But, growers say the lull is only temporary.

Most of the packing houses for Montana cherry orchards are based in Washington, and they are currently full with late season cherries from Washington orchards, many of which are in direct competition with local growers.

Cherry growers say local demand is still high and they don't believe the Washington "hold" will have much effect on their cherry season or prices. But cherry pickers will lose a few days of work over the move.

"That's the hardest part is that the pickers would rather pick big every day, and you have to idle them. We've had this happen before. It's a hiccup--it's not a catastrophe or a crisis. Farming is farming. You have prices go up and prices go down," Point Caroline Orchards owner Louise Swanberg explained.

She expects to resume shipping cherries to Washington again by early next week.