US 'Cherry Queen' Rainier Crop Suffers Major Decline, Season Ends Early

The 2026 season for Rainier cherries, often dubbed the 'cherry queen,' has been severely impacted, concluding early with a sharp decline in shipments. Data from the US Northwest Cherry Growers indicates that only about 1.1 million boxes of Rainier cherries have been shipped this season, a staggering 52% decrease from the 2025 season.

This significant reduction is primarily attributed to adverse weather conditions, specifically wind and rain, which caused substantial damage to the fruit. The overall cherry harvest in the US Northwest, encompassing Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana, has also fallen short of expectations. While initially projected at 19.2 million boxes, the total shipments are now estimated to reach only around 16 million boxes, with an additional 500,000 boxes expected by August.

This revised forecast represents a considerable downward revision from earlier predictions. In April, the potential yield was estimated between 19.5 million and 21.5 million boxes. The current harvest figures suggest that meeting even the reduced targets will be challenging.

Despite the lower volume, industry representatives note that the flavor, size, and quality of the cherries that were harvested remain high. As the supply of Rainier cherries dwindles, the market will increasingly rely on dark sweet cherries to meet the remaining demand for the season.