Cherry, apple growers: tariffs are the pits

Chinese tariffs on cherries and apples are leaving northwest growers disappointed. The Pacific Northwest is home to family-owned orchards that provide 66% of the apples, 74% of the pears, and 78% of the sweet cherries grown in the US. Exports are vital to the industry, with approximately one-third of the apples, pears, and cherries grown in the region going to other countries. In 2017, about 2.9 million 20-pound boxes of cherries, valued at $127 million, grown and packed in Washington and Oregon were exported to China according to the Northwest Horticultural Council.