Looking out over the orchards to a nice sunset on Mt. Hood.
Pierce Martin / Flickr
This weekend, Hood River County will host its annual Cherry Celebration Weekend. That's great news for cherry lovers, but if you were hoping to hit the U-Pick, don't get too excited: Farmers warn that the guest of honor will be notably absent from local boughs.
Cherry trees throughout the region bore fruit nearly a month ahead of schedule this season, and most have already been picked and packed.
It's not just the cherries. The Hood River Valley is a hotspot for apples and peaches, and it supplies more than half of the nation's winter pears. This year, crops across the valley are coming to fruition weeks earlier than usual. But what's causing the trend, and what does it mean for local farmers and fieldworkers? We talk to Craig Mallon and Jean Godfrey to find out.
GUESTS:
- Craig Mallon: Quality Control Manager at Duckwall Fruit Company
- Jean Godfrey: Executive Director of Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers