San Joaquin County, California's top cherry-producing region, has filed a state disaster declaration for the second year in a row after weather-related crop damage wiped out roughly 63.5% of this season's crop. County Agricultural Commissioner Kamal Bagri submitted the letter to state officials this week, with growers hoping for emergency assistance to offset devastating losses.
This hits at a critical moment — the Northwest cherry season is just getting started, and California organic cherries are also seeing an early start with limited volume. Back-to-back disaster years for San Joaquin raise serious questions about long-term viability for growers in the region and could put upward pressure on cherry prices heading into peak summer promotions.
Buyers planning cherry programs should reassess supply assumptions now. With Utah also declaring a freeze emergency and Northwest volume running lighter than normal, the overall cherry supply picture for summer 2026 is tightening from multiple directions.