{"id":336024,"date":"2026-05-28T15:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/336024\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T15:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:26:12","slug":"storms-slash-california-cherry-crop-and-export-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/336024\/","title":{"rendered":"Storms Slash California Cherry Crop and Export Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) \u2014 California cherry growers are facing major crop losses after spring heat and rain hit orchards during a short harvest window. <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfbf.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">The California Farm Bureau<\/a> reports San Joaquin County lost 63 percent of its cherry crop, with estimated losses of $174 million.<\/p>\n<p>The damage started with an early heat wave that hurt fruit set in several orchards. Then April and May storms caused splitting, decay, and shorter shelf life as the fruit matured.<\/p>\n<p>Statewide production is now expected to be below 5 million 18-pound boxes, compared with a recent five-year average of 8 million boxes. California is the nation\u2019s second-largest cherry-producing state behind Washington.<\/p>\n<p>The quality problem is also an export problem. California cherries rely heavily on the fresh market, and premium fruit normally moves to buyers in Canada, South Korea, and Japan.<\/p>\n<p>Several counties are reviewing disaster declarations, while crop insurance may help growers cover some costs.<\/p>\n<p>Farm-Level Takeaway: Weather losses are cutting California cherry volume, reducing export-quality fruit and creating another difficult year for growers.<\/p>\n<p>Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-ee0001\" name=\"list-ee0001\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Drought Aid Could Help Ranchers Preserve Cowherds Longer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/drought-aid-could-help-ranchers-preserve-cowherds-longer\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Cattle in drought conditions_photo by 169169 via Adobe Stock.png\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981970_835_.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        With U.S. cattle supplies already tight, drought response remains a long-term supply issue.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 28, 2026 11:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"South Texas Drought Adds Fuel Cost Risk Layer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/south-texas-drought-adds-fuel-cost-risk-layer\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A scenic view of the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park, in Texas_Photo by jdwfoto via AdobeStock_714805397.png\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981970_809_.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        According to OPIS, the city is preparing for a projected Level 1 Water Emergency tied to a prolonged five-year drought.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 28, 2026 10:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Mexico Grain Costs Rise While Exports Hold Steady\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/mexico-grain-costs-rise-while-exports-hold-steady\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A towboat, known as a pusher, pushes barges full of cargo up the Mississippi River near downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA_Photo by Matt Gush via Adobe Stock_828872155.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981971_377_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Mexico\u2019s demand for U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat remained mostly steady during the first quarter, despite higher transportation costs.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 28, 2026 08:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Arkansas River Lock Work Adds Grain Shipping Timing Concerns\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/arkansas-river-lock-work-adds-grain-shipping-timing-concerns\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Robert S Kerr Dam, US Army Corps of Engineers, Sallisaw, OK. Hydroelectric power generation._Photo by Tamara Harding_AdobeStock_436857547.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981971_226_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        The temporary closures come as grain traffic on the Arkansas River continues running ahead of recent years.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 28, 2026 07:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"China Trade Talks Continue to Draw Attention to Agriculture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/china-trade-talks-continue-to-draw-attention-to-agriculture\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"VSJHHHiq.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981972_258_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney says producers should continue to watch tariff negotiations, market access, and the possibility of a more transactional trade relationship with China.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 27, 2026 02:42 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"ASFMRA Outlines Key Factors Driving the Farmland Market in 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/asfmra-outlines-key-factors-driving-the-farmland-market-in-2026\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"jkNpkZrO.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779981972_185_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        ASFMRA\u2019s Howard Halderman says several economic and policy issues are continuing to influence the farmland market.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 27, 2026 02:22 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) \u2014 California cherry growers are facing major crop losses after spring heat and rain&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":336025,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":["post-336024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/336025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}