Washington is seeing a slightly delayed start on its cherry crop from what was originally projected. “It’s been a really mild spring, so the cherries aren’t progressing as quickly as we’ve seen in years past,” says Joel Hewitt of CMI Orchards. “That’s a good thing because there’s still some California product out there and the less overlap the better for everyone.”

^{CMI’s Skylar Rae cherries.}

Production will embark next week with the state expected to reach peak supply the week of June 10, with that peak lasting for about four weeks. “That peak normally lasts five to six weeks when we have a stronger late-season crop. This year some of our high-elevation orchards were compromised because of the cold temperatures we had in January,” says Hewitt. “These orchards typically carry us into late July through mid to late August so we anticipate fewer late summer cherries in the market. Our recommendation to retailers is to start strong and to keep their foot on the gas all season long to make sure cherries are promoted, featured, prominently positioned and those impulse purchases are captured as much as possible.”

As for the crop, it is a good-sized crop that’s very evenly distributed amongst the trees. That even set means there’s a good chance for great quality large cherries because more energy and nutrients are being put into cherries still hanging. “Too many cherries on the trees typically results in smaller fruit, so finding the right cherry-to-tree ratio, using techniques like blossom thinning to manage this balance, is important for growing healthy-sized cherries,” said Hewitt.

With the good supply, Hewitt also thinks this season might be one for retailers to consider different varieties of cherries such as CMI’s Skylar Rae cherries or Strawberry cherries. “The Rainier cherries look to be comparable to last year in volume and it seems like there’s going to be great domestic and export demand there. We’ll have a good supply of high-quality Rainier cherries this year as well as the red cherries.”

^{“For the Northwest, we’ll have excellent peak timing for the 4th of July ad which is great,” says Hewitt.}

Holiday timing
Meanwhile, timing does look to be on Washington’s side this year, even with the later start. “It looks like the California crop was able to service the Memorial Day ad really well this year. For the Northwest, we’ll have excellent peak timing for the 4th of July ad which is great,” says Hewitt. He also notes that the Memorial Day weekend movement momentum should stay strong through the Washington season.

Though with B.C. having such a small cherry crop this season due to weather issues, this will in turn put demand pressure on the end of the Washington crop.

^{With the good supply, Hewitt also thinks this season might be one for retailers to consider different varieties of cherries such as Strawberry cherries (right).}

Retail pricing is a bit more aggressive than last year. “With the overall tonnage of cherries being supplied out of the United States between California and Washington, the supply will stay somewhat level to the point where we hope that retail pricing stays level,” he says. “It gives us a good opportunity to maintain these prices and still move through the crop.”

For more information:
Ashlyn Lewis
CMI Orchards, LLC
Tel: +1 (509) 888-3434 (office) ext. 112
[email protected]
www.cmiorchards.com

The invitation issued on Friday by the leaders of the US Senate and House of Representatives to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address both houses of Congress is an important one – stressing, as the text of the invite stated, “America’s solidarity with Israel.”

In accepting the invitation, Netanyahu wrote: “I am moved by the privilege of representing Israel before both houses of Congress, and of presenting, to the representatives of the American people and the entire world, the truth about our righteous war against those who seek our destruction.”

The invitation to the prime minister, who has not left Israel’s borders since the horrifying attack by Hamas on October 7, is probably seen by some as a welcome reprieve, a semblance of normalcy, and a reminder of the close relations Israel has with the US. And it is all of that.

But there are two underlying issues that cause uneasiness over undertaking such a journey and giving a speech at this time.

What will Netanyahu tell Congress that he won’t tell Israel?

The first is the intense and fraught debate that went on behind the scenes over extending the invitation. And the second is the notion that Netanyahu – who hasn’t given an interview to an Israeli journalist since October 7 and who still hasn’t presented a clear outline of where Israel is headed in the war, beyond “total victory” over Hamas – is going to speak about those issues outside the country.

Doesn’t the prime minister owe his citizens a speech of this magnitude before sailing overseas? What grand plan, what resolution could he present to Congress, if he hasn’t even begun to touch the issue back home?

When push comes to shove, America’s support in this war has been ironclad and will likely remain so – including after the war comes to a stop – despite statements veering in both directions. But Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza has rattled deep divides in America, mostly along party lines, particularly regarding the incursion into Rafah, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding.

Overall, Republicans have shown unequivocal support, both in the US and in visits to Israel. Former US presidential candidate Nikki Haley was the latest in a line of such visitors, alongside US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–South Carolina), just this past week. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D–New York, 15th District) visited last month – showing, beyond a doubt, that the bipartisan support is unmovable.

The letter inviting Netanyahu was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The purpose of the invite is that, in order to “build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combating terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,” the letter reads.

Netanyahu will become the first world leader to address a joint session of Congress for the fourth time – in 1996, 2011 and most recently, 2015. This speaks volumes, and is a rare form of honor; it is one of the most important stages in the world, and the prime minister, a man of smart speeches, will certainly know what to say. How the speech will be received depends in part on how he responds to US President Joe Biden’s announcement on the Israeli far-reaching proposal that he released on Friday.

The president presented a ceasefire plan that would return the hostages and end the war in Gaza. Although the plan is not a good one, it may present the only possible way for Israel to retrieve whatever hostages remain alive and to enable the displaced residents of the South and North to return home and our soldiers to leave Gaza. If Netanyahu, who is facing pressure from his far-right coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, does not accept the plan, how will that affect his arrival in Washington?

Other than repeating the mantra of destroying Hamas and giving vague answers about what surely will not happen in Gaza the day after the war, Netanyahu has yet to present a clear vision of what this plan looks like. If the prime minister doesn’t present his day-after plan before boarding that flight to Washington – in Hebrew, to Israelis – he will have insulted an entire country.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

Today’s Question: What B1G team would you want to win the national title other than Ohio State?

Jami’s Take: Washington Huskies

I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.

And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.

This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.

“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”

Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.

“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.

To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.

If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.

Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.

Matt’s Take: Iowa Hawkeyes

I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?

So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.

Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.

From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.

But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?

I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.

I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.

So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.

Let us know who you are agreeing with: