Low interest loans available to cherry growers

Mar. 20—WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sweet cherry growers in Washington will be eligible for up to $500,000 in federal emergency loans following a formal disaster declaration for the 2023 cherry season by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The declaration was announced Tuesday by Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Rep. Kim Schrier.

Cherry season 2023 was plagued by bad weather in Washington and California, which shortened the season and led to an oversupply of fruit.

"Many growers in Washington were forced to leave crop unharvested and experienced significant economic losses," according to a joint press release from Cantwell, Murray and Schrier.

Governor Jay Inslee made a similar request.

The USDA disaster declaration will allow cherry growers access to low-interest loans to help them keep operating into the 2024 cherry season, the press release said.