Harvest time begins for cherry growers

The Flathead cherry harvest finally got underway last week, and according to Flathead Lake Cherry Growers president Dale Nelson, everything is running smoothly.

“So far, so good,” Nelson said.

The harvest is still in its early stages. According to Nelson, most orchards are still picking the cherry varieties that ripen during the first part of the season, including Lamberts and Vans. He guessed some farmers would begin harvesting the later varieties — such as Lapins — around the middle of this week.

Nelson said most growers are about one-third of the way through their harvest time, which should be wrapped up sometime around mid-August.

“We could still have some people picking around August 15 or 16,” Nelson said.

Weather hasn’t been a major issue yet, Nelson said.

“Rain is always the biggest threat,” he said. “When too much water is absorbed by the cherry, it can split.”

The cherry growers cooperative has two helicopters on stand-by throughout the harvest, which are used to dry the fruit after a precipitation event. The group has already utilized the aircraft a few times this season, according to Nelson.

“Anybody in the cooperative, if they signed up for it, will be dried after it rains,” Nelson said.

To dry the fruit, the helicopter flies low over the orchard, fanning the trees with wind created by the moving rotator blades.

“We can usually get in there and get them dried out OK, unless it’s just a monsoon,” Nelson said.

Flathead cherries are available for purchase in local grocery stores and from stands set up along the east and west shores of Flathead Lake.