UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA SERIES ON CALIFORNIA CROPS AND PRICES CHERRIES H. R. WELLMAN AND E. W. BRAUN BULLETIN 488 FEBRUARY, 1930 CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GIANNINI FOUNDATION OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTING OFFICE BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1930 CONTENTS PAGE Summary 3 The general situation 5 Types of cherries 5 Principal sweet-cherry-producing states 7 Trend of bearing acreage in California 7 Forecast of bearing acreage in California 8 Cherry acreage by counties in California 9 Production of cherries in California 10 Cherry acreage in Oregon and Washington 12 Fresh cherries 12 Seasonal variation in shipments 12 Competition of other fruits 15 California interstate shipments 15 Principal markets for California cherries 16 Varieties of cherries in California 17 Weekly sales by varieties 19 Trends of sales by varieties 20 Trend of prices 20 Seasonal variation in prices 23 Average price differentials between varieties 23 Factors affecting prices 24 Canned cherries 26 Important canning-cherry-producing states 27 Trend of canned cherry pack 27 Wide variations in pack of canned cherries in California 28 Prices paid to growers for canning cherries 30 Exports of canned cherries 31 Maraschino cherries 33 Italian exports of cherries 35 Acknowledgments 36 Appendix of tables 37 CHERRIES 1 H. E. WELLMAN2 and E. W. BEAUN3 SUMMARY Sweet and sour cherries do not compete seriously either for the use of land or in the consuming markets. The commercial production of sweet cherries in the United States is largely confined to the states west of the Rocky Mountains, the commercial production of sour cherries, to the states east of the Rocky Mountains. Sweet cherries are used mainly as fresh or canned table fruit and in the manufacture of maraschino cherries, while the bulk of the sour cherries are used as a pie fruit. California is the most important state in the production of sweet cherries. The average annual production in California during the past four years, 1925-1928, amounted to 15,600 tons, as against 10,700 tons in Oregon and 6,800 tons in Washington. From 1921 to 1926 there was a gradual increase in the bearing acreage of cherries in California, amounting on the average to almost 400 acres a year. During the past three years the increase has been much more rapid, amounting to about 800 acres a year. Indications are that this rapid increase will be maintained during the next few years. In 1929 there were 13,260 acres of bearing cherries in the state and 5,647 nonbearing acres. The California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service estimates that by 1932 the bearing acreage will amount to 16,300 acres, an increase of 23 per cent over the bearing acreage in 1929. The production of cherries, however, has not kept pace with the increase in bearing acreage. Conditions have been unfavorable to high yields in the past few years. The average yield per acre for the state as a whole was only 1.33 tons during the past six years, whereas the average yield during the five years from 1919 to 1923 amounted to 1.63 tons. The available information indicates that at least a part 1 Paper No. 8. The Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics. 2 Extension Specialist in Agricultural Economics and Associate on the Giannini Foundation. 3 Extension Specialist in Agricultural Economics and Associate on the Giannini Foundation. 4 University of California — Experiment Station of the decline in yield is a temporary and not a permanent condition. Similar periods of low yields followed by periods of higher yields have occurred at two other times during the past 25 years. If the present period of low yields is followed by a period of high yields such as occurred previously, it is evident that the total production in the state may be materially increased. In addition, the increase in bearing acreage may result in a further increase in production. Fresh Cherries. — Although many of the other western states pro- duce large quantities of sweet cherries for fresh consumption, they do not come on the market until the California season is nearly com- pleted. Consequently, they do not compete to any serious extent with our fruit. The trend of interstate shipments of fresh cherries from this state has been upward, rising from 570 cars in 1921 to 730 cars in 1929, an increase of 33 per cent. This upward trend may be expected to con- tinue since about 65 per cent of the present nonbearing acreage of cherries in the state is planted to black varieties which are shipped fresh. Thus far the demand for California fresh cherries has kept pace with the upward trend of shipments. Consequently, there has been no downward trend in prices. Whether the demand for cherries will continue to increase cannot be definitely determined from the data now available. However, there is as yet no evidence that it has been checked. But even with a further increase in demand it does not appear that the level of prices will rise above the average of recent years if the prospective increase in shipments materializes. And if conditions are particularly favorable to large yields there may even be some decline in the trend of prices. Canned Cherries. — The Royal Ann (Napoleon) cherry is the prin- cipal variety used for canning, and a considerable part of the Royal Ann crop is so used. As contrasted with fresh cherries, California canned cherries come in direct competition with those packed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah. Some of the states east of the Rocky Mountains also produce large quantities of canning cherries, but their cherries are the sour varieties. Consequently, they do not compete seriously with our sweet cherries. Although there has been a downward trend in the canned pack in this state since 1919, there has been a pronounced upward trend in Oregon and Washington. The increase in those two states has more than offset the decline in California. The total pack of canned cherries on the Pacific Coast has increased about 18 per cent in the past nine years. The increase Buu 488] Cherries 5 in the pack of canned cherries, however, has been small as compared with the increases in most of the canned fruits. The demand for canned cherries has just about kept pace with the relatively small increase in the pack. Consequently, there has been no pronounced downward trend in prices paid to growers. Unofficial estimates indicate that there are about 2,500 acres of nonbearing Royal Ann (Napoleon) trees in the three Pacific Coast states. When this acreage comes into bearing production will be increased. While canning may be expected to provide an outlet for a gradual increase in the supply of Royal Anns, it does not appear that a very large increase in the canned pack can be sold except at lower prices. Exports of canned cherries from the Pacific Coast ports have averaged around 28,700 cases annually during recent years. Since 1923 there has been an upward trend in exports. Although exports have increased somewhat faster than the pack, they still constitute less than 5 per cent of it. Countries in the Orient are the most important foreign markets for canned cherries exported directly from this coast. During the past four years they have taken about two-thirds of the total exports from San Francisco. Maraschino Cherries. — In recent years the manufacture of maras- chino and glace cherries has provided an annual outlet for more than 5,000,000 pounds of sulfured and brined Royal Ann (Napoleon) cherries that were produced on the Pacific Coast, This amount, how- ever, has constituted only a part of the sulfured and brined cherries which the United States annually uses in the manufacture of mara- schino and glace cherries, During the past six years the total imports of cherries, most of which were sulfured and brined cherries that had been stemmed and pitted, amounted to an average of 17,000,000 pounds a year. The Outlook. — From the available facts it does not appear that large additional plantings of Royal Ann (Napoleon) cherries are justified unless the domestic market for maraschino cherries is greatly expanded. Nor, in view of the large increase in production already in prospect, does it appear that the acreage of cherries for fresh shipment can be profitably increased except in particularly favorable localities. THE GENERAL SITUATION Types of Cherries. — There are two distinct types of cherries grown in the United States, the sweet and the sour. These two types do not compete to any considerable extent either for the use of land or in the consuming markets. 6 University of California — Experiment Station The commercial production of sweet cherries is largely confined to the states west of the Rocky Mountains ; the commercial production of sour cherries, to the states east of the Rocky Mountains. Practically no sour cherries are grown commercially in California, while in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah only a small percentage of the crop consists of sour cherries. On the other hand, in the important cherry-producing states east of the Rocky Mountains, such as Michigan and New York, it is estimated that only 5 or 10 per cent of the production consists of sweet cherries. According to Bailey " sweet cherries can be grown with commercial success in but few and com- paratively limited regions. They are somewhat fastidious as to soils, are lacking in hardiness to both heat and cold, are prey to more insects than sour cherries, and subject to nearly all the fungus ills to which stone-fruits are heir, suffering in particular from brown-rot and leaf -spot, " 4 Consequently, it is not expected that the commercial sweet-cherry area will be extended beyond the states in which they are now grown. TABLE 1 Total Production of Cherries in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Idaho Year California Oregon Washington Utah Idaho 1919 tons 12,400 17,500 13,000 14,000 17,000 13,500 12,000 20,000 12,000 18,500 15,000 tons tons tons ions 1920 6,200 1 3,000 1* 5,500 f 8,800 I 10,000 1 6,300 ■ 14,400 | 10,500 10,900 1921 1922 1923 8,000 4,000 7,000 9,000 3,000 10,000 5,000 2,000 5,500 5,300 3,800 4,600 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928* 1929* 2,200 4,000 * Subject to revision. Sources of data: California data from N. I. Nielsen, Fruit Statistician, California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service; Oregon data from F. L. Kent, Agricultural Statistician, Oregon; data for other states from Shear, S.W., Fruit Production, Consumption and Utilization in the United States. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. (in preparation). The two types of cherries are also fairly distinct from the stand- point of market preferences. Sweet cherries are used mainly as a table fruit and in the manufacture of Maraschino cherries, while the bulk of the sour cherries are used as a pie fruit. Consequently, the competition between them in the consuming markets is not close. 4 Bailey, L. H. Standard cyclopedia of horticulture. 2:738-739. 1919. Bul, 488] Cherries Because of the noncompetitive character of the two types of cherries, this publication deals solely with the sweet cherry, which is the only type grown commercially in California. Principal Sweet-Cherry-producing States. — The principal states in the production of sweet cherries are California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Idaho. The available estimates of production in these five states are given in table 1. During the four years 1925-1928 the average production in California amounted to 15,600 tons, in Oregon to 10,700 tons, in Washington to 6,800 tons, and in Utah to 4,700 tons. In Idaho production in 1927 amounted to 2,200 tons and in 1928 to 4,000 tons. Trend of Bearing Acreage in California. — Estimates of bearing acreage of cherries in California are available for each year since 1914. These data are shown graphically in figure 1. During the seven years Bearing Acreage of Cherries in - California, 1914-1929, and Forecast of Acres o o> o to o CO to o •tf CO r- to iH lO CO iH CD <* CM w4 to CO lO r-4 ^ CO to CM CM CO CO CO co CO CO o> o> OS o o iH CM o o o o to o o o CM tO <# to Fig. 1. — The recent rapid increase in bearing acreage of cherries in California is likely to continue during the next few years. Data from California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. from 1914 to 1921 there was only a small increase in bearing acreage, amounting on the average to less than 100 acres a year. From 1921 to 1926 the increase was more rapid, amounting on the average to almost 8 University of California — Experiment Station 400 acres a year. During the past three years the increase in bearing acreage has been very rapid, amounting to about 800 acres a year. In 1929 the bearing acreage amounted to 13,260 acres, 22 per cent larger than in 1926 and 42 per cent larger than in 1922. Cherry Acreage, California, 1929 (Bearing and Nonbearing) County Santa Clara Acreage Per cent 4,647 24.6 San Joaquin 2,750 14.5 Sonoma 1,622 8.6 Solano 1,367 7.2 Riverside 1,030 5.5 Placer 824 4.4 Alameda 720 3.8 Sacramento 718 3.8 Napa 613 3.2 San Bernardino 579 3.1 Sutter 569 3.0 Tulare 474 2.5 Santa Cruz 425 2.3 Contra Costa 405 2.1 El Dorado 267 1.4 Stanislaus 204 1.1 Tehama 203 1.1 San Diego 160 .9 Yolo 137 .7 Fresno 115 .6 \. Yuba 113 .6 ^V Butte 101 .5 >v Mendocino 100 .5 i. X, n-th°r3 764 4.0 \ \_ Total 18,967 100^0 Each dot represents 100 acres. Fig. 2. — The large cherry-producing areas in the state are confined to a comparatively few counties. Data from California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Forecast of Bearing Acreage in California. — Present indications are that the rapid increase in the bearing acreage during the past three years will be maintained for the next few years at least. In 1929 there were approximately 5,647 acres of cherries which had not Bul, 488] Cherries yet come into bearing. The California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service estimates that by 1932 the bearing acreage will reach 16,300 acres, an increase of 23 per cent over the present bearing acreage. In figure 1 the forecasts of bearing acreage for the three years of 1930, 1931, and 1932 are shown by the crosshatched bars. Cherry Acreage by Counties in California. — The distribution of the total cherry acreage in California in 1929 is shown in figure 2. TABLE 2 California Cherry Acreage by Counties; Bearing Acreage 1922-1929; and nonbearing acreage, 1929 County Alameda Contra Costa Humboldt Mendocino Napa San Mateo Santa Clara Santa Cruz Sonoma Butte El Dorado Nevada Placer Sacramento Solano Sutter Tehama Yolo Fresno San Joaquin Stanislaus Tulare Riverside San Bernardino San Diego Other counties.. Total 1922 acres 535 200 25 50 300 13 2,500 300 825 27 574 307 850 62 26 70 77 1,058 70 116 444 274 150 324 9,317 1923 acres 542 200 28 50 300 14 2,500 300 887 31 90 55 581 310 900 111 26 70 77 1,121 85 118 481 286 153 330 9,646 1924 acres 550 200 30 50 300 15 2,500 300 950 35 100 55 588 314 950 160 26 70 77 1,184 90 121 519 299 157 341 ,981 1925 acres 675 200 35 53 300 18 2,500 337 950 38 130 54 579 340 1,000 208 26 71 90 1,208 99 125 618 274 156 349 10,433 1926 acres 800 212 50 63 300 25 2,676 340 1,000 58 120 300 1,000 224 25 84 100 1,390 100 125 407 285 163 372 10,828 1927 acres 876 212 55 75 300 45 2,776 360 1,200 95 120 60 581 340 1,007 229 50 90 105 1,450 94 154 454 301 120 372 11,521 1928 acres 800 250 55 83 300 66 3,176 370 1,282 95 120 60 587 420 1,013 345 85 104 105 1,500 114 221 452 481 130 355 12,569 1929 acres 600 275 60 95 320 70 3,370 375 1,427 95 145 60 600 450 1,050 345 90 112 105 1,798 150 235 452 431 132 418 13,260 Non- bearing acreage, 1929 acres 120 130 2 5 293 16 1,277 50 195 6 122 224 268 317 224 113 25 10 952 54 239 578 148 28 251 5,647 Sources of data: Compiled by N. I. Nielsen, Fruit Statistician, California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Although cherries are grown in 46 of the 58 counties in the state, the large producing areas are confined to comparatively few counties. Of the 18,907 acres in the state, 6,197 acres or 33 per cent are located in the four counties — Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz — south of San Francisco Bay ; 3,602 acres or 19 per cent, in the 10 University of California — Experiment Station three counties — Sonoma, Napa, and Solano — north of San Francisco Bay; 4,292 acres or 23 per cent, in three central California counties — San Joaquin, Sacramento, and Placer; and 1,609 acres or 9 per cent in the two counties — Riverside and San Bernardino — in southern California, These twelve counties contain almost 85 per cent of the total acreage in the state. The principal cherry-producing counties from the standpoint of bearing acreage are given in table 2. In 1929 the three counties of Santa Clara, San Joaquin, and Sonoma contained one-half of the total bearing acreage in the state, and Santa Clara County contained one- fourth. The changes in the bearing acreage of cherries in the various counties of the state from 1922 to 1929 are shown in table 2. It will be noted that 63 per cent of the total increase of 2,432 acres from 1926 to 1929 occurred in the three counties of Santa Clara, Sonoma, and San Joaquin, while 29 per cent of the total increase occurred in Santa Clara County alone. The location of the recent plantings of cherries in California is shown in the last column in table 2. Of the 5,647 acres not in bearing in 1929, 23 per cent were in Santa Clara County, 17 per cent in San Joaquin County, 10 per cent in Riverside County, and 6 per cent in Solano County. These four counties contain over one-half of the total nonbearing acres in the state at the present time. Production of Cherries in California. — The estimated production of cherries in California from 1919 to 1929 is represented by the broken line in figure 3. The scale of production is adjusted to that of bearing acreage, which is represented by the solid line, on the basis of the average yield per acre between 1919 and 1924. It will be noted that during recent years production has not kept pace with the increase in bearing acreage. With the exception of 1926, conditions have apparently been unfavorable to high yields. The average yield per acre for the state as a whole was only 1.33 tons during the past six years, whereas the average yield during the years 1919-1923 amounted to 1.63 tons. The relatively unfavorable conditions of recent years are also indicated by the available figures on the condition of the crop collected by the California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. The average condition of the crop from 1919 to 1923 was 79 per cent of a full crop, whereas the average condition during the past five years was only 59 per cent of a full crop. The average yield per acre in 1929 was the lowest in any year since 1919 with the single exception of 1927. The severe freeze in April resulted in a short crop Bul. 488] Cherries 11 in the Sacramento and upper San Joaquin valleys. Such severe freezes, however, do not occur often. Whether the relatively low yields which prevailed in 1924, 1925, 1927, and 1928 are of a temporary or a permanent nature cannot be Production and Bearing Acreage of Cherries in California, 1919-1929, and Forecast of Bearing Acreage, 1930-1932 16 14 12 ©10 to 3 13.0 Fig. 3. — With favorable weather conditions, production of cherries in California during the next few years is likely to be considerably larger than the average of recent years. Data from figure 1 and table 1. definitely determined. Estimates of total production are not available prior to 1919. Data on the interstate shipments of fresh cherries and the canned pack, however, indicate that similar periods of low yields followed by periods of high yields have occurred at two other times during the past 25 years. From 1904 to 1907 the yields were low; from 1908 to 1912 they were much higher; again from 1913 to 1916 they were low, and from 1917 to 1923 they were high. If the present period of low yields is followed by a period of high yields such as occurred previously, the total production in the state will be materially increased. It is also likeiy that there will be some increase in yield per acre as a result of the increase in the average age of the trees. As a result of the rapid increase in acreage in recent years, a relatively large proportion of the trees now listed as bearing have not yet reached the age of full bearing. In view of the possibility of higher yields per 12 University of California — Experiment Station acre, together with the large prospective increase in bearing acreage, it is evident that we may be faced with an average production of cherries during the coming years much higher than in recent years. Cherry Acreage in Oregon and Washington, — During recent years there has been a substantial increase in the total acreage of cherries in Oregon. In 1923 the total acreage amounted to 5,000 acres, in 1927 to 7,500 acres, and in 1928 to 10,000 acres. 5 Most of this recent increase has not yet come into bearing, and consequently has not yet resulted in a corresponding increase in production. The total acreage of cherries in Washington in 1928 was estimated to be 6,200 acres, 6 The bearing and nonbearing trees are not reported separately for the state as a whole. In eastern Washington, however, such estimates are available. Of the total acreage of 2,600 acres in that section in 1928, 1,600 acres were classified as bearing and 1,000 acres as nonbearing. 7 Practically all of the cherries produced in eastern Washington are the sweet varieties. In western Washington, however, some sour cherries are produced, and it is reported that the plantings of sour cherries in that area are increasing. FRESH CHERRIES Seasonal Variation in Shipments. — The weekly carlot shipments of cherries from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah in 1928 and 1929 are given in table 3. Although these figures include shipments to canneries, they fairly represent the shipping seasons of fresh cherries from the different states. An analysis of similar data for the previous five years indicates that 1928 and 1929 are typical from the standpoint of the competition which California fresh cherries meet from those produced elsewhere. In figure 4 the shipments of California cherries are shown by the black bars and the shipments from the other states by the crosshatched bars. The shipping season in California usually begins around the last of April or the first of May and continues for about nine weeks. Most of the fruit, however, is shipped during a period of four or five weeks. In 1928, 85 per cent of the total crop moved during the four weeks of 5 Estimates made by F. L. Kent, Agricultural Statistician, Oregon. 6 State of Washington, Dept. of Agr. Eighth Biennial Report, p. 41. 1928. Data are given in number of trees, which were converted to acres on the basis of 60 trees per acre. 7 M. D. Armstrong, Extension Horticulture Specialist, State College of Washing- ton; letter dated October 11, 1928. Buu 488] Cherries 13 May 19 to June 9, while in 1929, 75 per cent moved during" the four weeks of June 1 to June 22. It will be noted in figure 4 that during most of our shipping season California growers practically have the cherry market to themselves. TABLE 3 Weekly Carlot Shipments* of Cherries by State of Origin, 1928-1929 Year Week ending California Oregon Wash- ington Idaho Utah Total 1928 Apr. 28 cars 5 30 80 226 279 247 111 41 2 cars cars cars cars cars 5 30 12 80 19 226 26 279 247 9 .. 111 16 66 107 85 51 31 19 8 1 61 200 190 123 79 16 1 168 23 64 78 31 11 1 373 30 353 July 7 24 16 3 229 14 137 21 39 28 9 Total , 1,021 368 670 185 43 2,287 May 11 1929 16 40 77 160 192 153 107 65 2 16 18 40 25 77 June 1 8 160 192 15 2 25 83 36 36 50 42 28 7 2 31 183 179 158 50 26 1 7 37 63 69 18 5 158 22 170 29 368 July 6 5 45 39 9 285 13 308 20 157 27 82 Aug. 3 28 10 7 Total 812 309 629 200 98 2,048 * Includes cannery stock. Source of data: U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Agr. Econ. Weekly Summary of Carlot Shipments, weekly issues; except for California, 1928, which were compiled by W. F. Cox. It is only during the last two or three weeks of our season that cherries from other states appear on the market, and at that time our shipments are relatively light. By the time shipments from the other states become heavy, our cherries are practically gone. 14 University of California — Experiment Station That California fresh cherries meet with little competition in the consuming markets from those grown elsewhere is also shown by the record of sales on the delivered-auction market in New York City. Weekly Carlot Shipments of Cherries, California and Other Western States, 1928-1929 CALIFORNIA OTHERS 28 11 18 25 MAY 8 15 22 29 JUNE 13 20 27 JULY 10 AUGUST Fig. 4. — The bulk of the California fresh cherries is usually marketed before the shipments from the other states producing sweet cherries become heavy. Data from table 3. From 1922 to 1929 an average of 85 per cent of the total volume of California cherries had been sold before the cherries from the other sections made their appearance. Bul, 488] Cherries 15 Competition of Other Fruits. — Table 4 shows the weekly carlot shipments of certain fruits during the marketing season of California fresh cherries. During the first half of our cherry season, heavy shipments of strawberries move to market. As shipments of straw- berries decline, those of cantaloupes, peaches, and plums increase. Consequently, there is no time that our fresh cherries do not meet with some competition from other fruits. The tendency is for the com- petition to become keener as the season advances. TABLE 4 Weekly Carlot Shipments of Certain- Fresh Fruits, United States, and Weekly Interstate Shipments of Cherries and Apricots from California, 1928-1929 Year Week Cali- Straw- Canta- Peaches Plums Cali- Mixed Total, not ending fornia berries loupes and fornia decid- including cherries prunes apricots uous cherries cars cars cars cars cars cars cars cars 1928 Apr. 28 5 775 775 30 1,431 1,431 12 19 78 222 1,770 2,825 121 9,976 1,891 3 2 3,806 26 262 2,623 1,847 4 12 4,486 June 2 184 3,491 1,923 11 181 79 98 5,783 9 88 2,267 2,247 86 265 160 179 5,204 16 28 1,017 2,129 402 431 68 179 4,226 23 1 211 2,499 559 576 41 178 4,064 1929 May 11 16 2,187 3 2,190 18 40 2,876 53 6 2,935 25 77 2,365 621 19 1 3,006 •June 1 136 2,212 1,253 119 9 3 15 3,611 8 141 723 1,666 366 132 7 38 2,932 15 88 285 2,295 427 230 57 126 3,420 22 64 103 2,524 808 305 159 243 4,142 29 40 80 2,963 726 248 149 220 4,386 July 6 2 30 3,130 944 109 47 139 4,399 Source of data: U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Agr. Econ. Weekly Summary of Carlot Shipments, weekly issues, except for cherries and apricc-ts, which were compiled by W. F. Cox. California Interstate Shipments. — The interstate shipments of fresh cherries from California during the past twenty years are shown in figure 5. Significant changes in the trend of shipments occurred during this period. From 1909 to 1916 the trend was downward. Then occurred a period of very rapid expansion. Each year from 1917 to 1921, with the single exception of 1919, shipments were larger than in the preceding year. In 1916 the average shipments as deter- mined by the line of trend amounted to 210 cars; by 1921 they amounted to 570 cars, an increase of 170 per cent in five years. Since 16 University of California — Experiment Station 1921 the trend of shipments has continued upward but more slowly than before. The increase in the trend from 1921 to 1929 amounted to 160 cars or 33 per cent. A high record for fresh cherry shipments from this state was established in 1928. In that year 898 cars left the state, which is 21 per cent larger than the previous high record of 1926, and 33 per cent Interstate Shipments of Fresh Cherries, California, 1909-1929 oars towrH ^to •/ ^ y Fig. 5. — The recent upward trend in interstate shipments, although substantial, has not been as rapid as during the period from 1917 to 1921. Data from California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. larger than the five-year average 1923-1927. In 1929, however, ship- ments amounted to only 604 cars. The severe freeze in April reduced the crop materially. The recent upward trend in shipments is likely to continue during the next few years. Unofficial estimates indicate that about 65 per cent of the present nonbearing acreage of cherries in the state is planted to black varieties which are consumed fresh. Principal Markets for California Cherries. — The distribution of the interstate shipments of cherries from California is relatively limited. In 1928 shipments in carlots were sent to 23 cities in the United States and 4 cities in Canada, In 1929, as a result of the smaller crop, only 17 cities in the United States and 1 city in Canada were reached. In both 1928 and 1929 over 80 per cent of the total interstate shipments were sent to the 4 markets of New York, Chicago, Bul. 488] Cherries 17 Philadelphia, and Boston, and about 50 per cent to New York alone (table 5). TABLE 5 Destination of Interstate Shipments of California Cherries, 1928 and 1929 City Cars Per cent 1928 1929 1928 1929 432 139 79 75 37 32 24 15 15 8 7 6 6 23 304 99 44 52 24 22 16 10 10 5 4 1 7 6 48.1 15 5 8.8 8.3 4 1 3 5 2.7 1.7 1.7 .9 .8 .7 .7 2.5 50 3 16.4 7 3 8.6 4.0 3 6 2.6 1.7 Minneapolis Buffalo St. Louis 17 .8 .7 .1 Milwaukee Others 1.2 1.0 Total 898 604 100.0 100.0 Source of data: Compiled by W. F. Cox, Bur. Agr. Econ., U. S. Dept. Agr. Varieties of Cherries in California. — There are some twenty varie- ties of cherries produced commercially in California which may be shipped fresh. 8 The relative importance of five of the major varieties, as indicated by the delivered-auction sales in New York City, is shown in figure 6. The Black Tartarian is the leading variety for Sales of Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market, Average 1925-1929 1,000 Per Q Variety pounds cent r Black Tartarian 1,890 34.7 10 15 — r 20 - r~ 25 30 - r 35 Bing 1,283 23.6 Royal Ann 644 11 # 8 Black Republican 567 10.4 Early Chapman 169 3.1 Others 894 16.4 Total 5,448 100.0 Fig. 6. — Approximately one-third of the total sales of California, cherries at New York are Black Tartarians. Data from table 14. 8 California Fruit Exchange. California cherries, season of 1928. The Blue Anchor. 5(5) : 17. 1928. 18 University of California — Experiment Station fresh shipment, followed by Bing, Royal Ann, 9 Black Republican, and Early Chapman in the order named. During the period 1925-1929, 35 per cent of the total sales of California cherries on the New York Auction Market were Black Tartarian, 24 per cent Bings, and 12 per cent Royal Anns. 10 Sales of Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market by Weeks, 1928 500 h EARLY CHAPMAN ■ hi BgZl. 1,500 1,000 500 BLACK TARTARIAN 1,000 500 500 500 ROYAL ANN BLACK REPUBLICAN WEEK ENDING Fig. 7. — With the exception of Bings and Royal Anns, the peaks of five varieties come at different periods. Data from table 6. sales of the Only a small part of the total Royal Ann crop in the state is shipped fresh. It is not generally considered to be a first-class variety for eastern shipment because it does not stand the long haul as well as do the black varieties. 9 Napoleon is the proper name of this variety. On the Pacific Coast, however, it is known as Royal Ann. The name Royal Ann is used in this publication. 10 The sales of cherries on the New York Auction Market furnish a reliable sample of the fresh shipments since about 50 per cent of the total interstate shipments are sold on the New York Auction Market. Bul. 488] Cherries 19 Weekly Sales by Varieties. — The relation between the marketing periods of the five important varieties of California cherries is illus- trated in figure 7, which gives the weekly sales at New York in 1928. There is, of course, some variation from year to year in the time that TABLE 6 Sales of Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market, by Weeks, 1927-1929 Year Week ending Early Chapman Black Tartarian Bing Royal Ann Black Repub- lican Others Total 1927 May 13 20 27 June 3 10 17 24 July 1 8 15 Total 1,000 lbs. 21 59 13 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 4 34 14 26 125 239 215 66 32 17 1,000 lbs. 25 20 257 521 298 405 128 2 113 2 71 240 110 202 146 24 3 97 499 354 219 273 77 9 289 6 23 20 66 117 99 5 721 1,185 1,128 830 604 232 31 93 1,631 795 1,531 336 772 5,158 1928 May 4 11 18 25 June 1 8 15 22 29 Total 28 135 17 12 44 47 51 53 438 148 64 5 40 14 561 1,265 929 183 2 193 625 156 573 836 277 45 130 129 293 44 14 2 1,602 19 91 358 249 14 1,703 1 841 829 372 21 180 2,954 1,887 612 731 862 7,226 1929 May 10 17 24 31 June 7 14 21 28 July 5 12 Total 7 76 61 2 7 9 195 400 580 562 180 32 17 16 35 26 61 226 188 93 35 7 101 99 424 190 329 254 26 10 3 41 135 87 12 15 2 295 568 16 56 40 205 308 5 1,216 1 121 749 599 388 22 146 1,975 1,333 295 630 687 5,066 Source of data: Compiled from the New York Daily Fruit Reporter. the different varieties are marketed. In 1929, for example, the heavy sales of Black Tartarians came at the same time as those of Bings and Royal Anns (see table 6). An analysis of the data for other years, however, indicates that 1928 was more typical than 1929 from the 20 University of California — Experiment Station standpoint of seasonal marketing-. In most years the peaks of sales of the important varieties, with the exception of Bings and Royal Anns, come at different times. Thus the marketing season is spread over a longer period than would be the case if all of the varieties were shipped at the same time. Trends of Sales by Varieties. — The increases in the New York Auction sales of four of the varieties from 1921-1923 to 1927-1929 are shown in table 7. It will be noted that each variety has TABLE 7 Sales of Important Varieties of California Cherries on the New York Auction Market, Average 1921-1923 and 1927-1929 Variety Average 1921-1923 Average 1927-1929 Increase Black Tartarian Bing 1,000 lbs. 1,261 583 223 675 1,000 lbs. 2,187 1,338 566 813 1,000 lbs. 926 755 343 138 per cent 73 130 Black Republican Royal Ann 154 20 Source of data: Compiled from New York Daily Fruit Reporter. experienced a substantial increase. The absolute increase has been greatest in Black Tartarians, followed by Bings, Black Republicans, and Royal Anns. The percentage increase, however, has been greatest in Black Republicans, followed by Bings, Black Tartarians, and Royal Anns. Trend of Prices. — The average annual f.o.b. prices 11 of California cherries from 1921 to 1929 are shown in figure 8. It will be noted that there has been no pronounced upward or downward trend in prices. During the same period, however, there was a substantial increase in interstate shipments. There has evidently been a marked increase in the demand for California cherries. Although consumers are paying as much per pound for them, they are eating almost one-third more than they did eight years ago. Whether the demand for cherries will continue to increase cannot be determined definitely from the data now available. However, there is as yet no evidence that the upward trend in demand has been checked. Even if there is a further substantial increase in demand, however, it should not be assumed that the future trend of prices will necessarily be upward. The relatively large acreage of cherries in n A composite of the weighted average prices of Black Tartarians, Black Bepublicans, Bings, and Boyal Anns. Bul.488] Cherries 21 this state which has not yet come into bearing" indicates that there will be a further material increase in the trend of interstate shipments. It is likely that the increase in the trend of shipments will be sufficient Annual Average F. O. B. Prices of California Cherries, 1921-1929 Dollars Fig. 8. — There has been no upward or downward trend in cherry prices during the past eight years. The fluctuations from year to year, however, have been relatively wide. Data from table 9. Seasonal Variation in New York Auction Prices of Important Varieties of California Cherries, Average 1925-1929 12 3 4 5 6 7 Weolcs in shipping season Fig. 9. — There is usually a decline in the prices of cherries from the beginning to the middle of the season. Data compiled from New York Daily Fruit Reporter. Years 1927-1929 are given in table 8. 22 University of California — Experiment Station to offset any reasonable increase in demand which may be expected. It is entirely possible, of course, that the upward trend in shipments will be great enough to cause a downward trend in prices during the next few years. That, however, cannot be definitely determined at this time. The recent increase in demand for cherries has not been the same for all varieties. While there has been no significant change in the TABLE 8 Weekly Average Prices of Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market, 1927-1929 (Per box of 8 pounds net) Year Week ending Early Chapman Black Tartarian Bing Royal Ann Black Republican 1927 May 13 20 27 June 3 10 17 24 July 1 8 dollars 4.68 3.58 2.94 dollars dollars dollars dollars 4.28 3.37 2.16 2.27 2.20 3.30 3.10 3.37 3.09 3.11 2.14 2.04 2.25 2.13 2.01 2.37 2.50 2.49 2.54 2.21 1928 May 4 11 18 25 June 1 8 15 22 29 4.07 3.06 2.61 3.26 2.42 1.52 1.55 1.52 2.31 2.22 2.18 2.45 2.30 1.63 1.52 1.63 1.80 1.70 1.79 1.72 1.98 1.76 1.29 1929 May 10 17 24 31 June 7 14 21 28 July 5 7.78 3.49 2.98 3.48 3.03 2.56 2.10 1.99 3.17 2.83 2.89 3.12 2.77 2.20 1.92 2.21 2.40 1.99 2.40 2.24 2.49 1 92 1.29 Source of data: Compiled from New York Daily Fruit Reporter. trend of prices of Black Republicans, Bings, Black Tartarians, and Royal Anns during the past eight years, there has been considerable difference in the relative increases in sales. Between 1921-1923 and 1927-1929 the sales of Black Republicans at New York increased 154 per cent, Bings 130 per cent, Black Tartarians 73 per cent, and Royal Anns 20 per cent. Bul, 488] Cherries 23 Seasonal Variation in Prices. — The average seasonal variation in the prices of five important varieties of cherries for the past five years is shown in figure 9. At the beginning of the season prices are usually very high because of the limited supply available. They begin to fall almost immediately, however, and usually continue downward until the middle of the season. The chief cause for this decline is the rapid increase in supplies. For the next three weeks there is no definite seasonal change in prices. Although shipments of California cherries decline, the decline is apparently offset by the increase in supplies of competing fruits. During the last week of our season, however, there is usually some decline in prices. In that week ship- ments of cherries from the other states producing sweet cherries increase rapidly, and in addition shipments of competing fruits are heavy. Average Price Differentials between Varieties. — The average auc- tion prices at New York of five important varieties of California cherries for the five years 1924-1928 are given in figure 10. The Annum* Prices op Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market, Average 1925-1929 Average Q price Dollars per box 2 3 Variety- Early Chapman Bing Black Tartarian Black Republican Royal Ann Fig. 10. — The differences in the lengths of the bars show the average price differentials between these five varieties of cherries since 1924. Data from table 15. Early Chapman has averaged the highest in price, followed by the Bing, Black Tartarian, Black Republican, and Royal Ann in the order named. The average price differentials between these five varieties are partly the result of differences in the time they are marketed and partly of differences in consumer preferences. The relatively high average price for Early Chapmans, for example, appears to be largely because they are marketed early when there is only a small supply of cherries available. They are apparently 24 University of California — Experiment Station less desirable than Black Tartarians from the consumers' standpoint as evidenced by the fact that they usually sell for lower prices than Black Tartarians when both varieties are on the market at the same time (see fig. 9). Bings appear to be the most desirable of the five varieties from the standpoint of consumers. They come on the market during the peak of our cherry- shipping season and yet they have consistently brought higher prices than the other varieties on the market at the same time. Factors Affecting Prices. — It will be noted in figure 8 that the prices of fresh cherries fluctuated considerably from year to year. These price fluctuations were the result of a combination of factors, the most important of which were changes in the interstate shipments from California and changes in the quality of the fruit. Kelation Between Average F. O. B. Prices and Annual Interstate Shipments of California Cherries, 1921-1929 2.10 1.90 P, 1.70 £1.50 1.30 1.10 V^29 • V^ ^^» S3 • 22 • 26 |24 • 2t ^>t ?8 • 25 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Fig. 11. — Small shipments are generally accompanied by high prices, large shipments by low prices. Data from table 9. In figure 11 the interstate shipments of California cherries, calcu- lated in percentages of the trend of shipments (fig. 5), are measured on the horizontal scale and the annual average f.o.b. prices on the vertical scale. Each dot represents the interstate shipments and average price for the year designated. The diagonal line represents the average relationship that has existed between interstate shipments and Bud. 488] Cherries 25 f.o.b. prices since 1921 (except for 1922 and 1925, which are omitted because of the abnormally low quality of the fruit due to unusual rains during the harvesting season). When shipments were small (measured as percentages of the trend) prices were high, when they TABLE 9 California Interstate Shipments of Cherries, Measured as Percentages of the; Trend and Average F. O. B. Prices, 1921-1929 Year Interstate shipments Price per box* 1 2 Per cent of trend dollars 1921 117 1.49 1922 85 1.59 1923 99 1.78 1924 113 1.54 1925 79 1.31 1926 111 1.52 1927 84 1.93 1928 126 1.36 1929 83 1.98 * Box of 8 pounds net. Sources of data: Col. 1. Computed from figure 5. Col. 2. Weighted average New York auction prices of Bings, Black Tartarians, Black Republicans, and Royal Anns (table 15) less commission, express, and refrigeration charges. were large prices were low. It is clearly evident that differences in the volume of shipments largely explain why prices were low in 1928 and high in 1927 and 1929. If interstate shipments were the only factor that affected the f.o.b. price, all of the dots in figure 11 would be located in the position occupied by the diagonal line. The fact that they are not, indicates that other factors also influence the changes in prices from year to year. One of the most important of these other factors is quality. In 1922 and particularly in 1925, the quality of the cherries was poor. Consequently, prices were much lower than they would ordinarily have been for the small volume of shipments. An important cause of the poor quality of California cherries in 1925 was the excessive rainfall during the ripening and harvesting season. In that year the average rainfall during May at Vacaville, Stockton, and San Jose was 2.3 inches while in the other years, with the exception of 1922, the rainfall never exceeded 0.4 of an inch, and in 1922 it amounted to 0.6 of an inch. It is generally accepted that extended rainfall during the ripening and harvesting seasons results 26 University of California — Experiment Station in checking and other conditions that are favorable to the germination of organisms which cause decay. In addition to variations from year to year in the supply and quality of cherries, it is probable that their prices are influenced by changes in the supplies or in the prices of competitive fruits such as strawberries, peaches, plums, and cantaloupes. On the average, how- ever, the competition of other fruits has been of much less importance than the supply or the quality of the cherries themselves in explaining year to year changes in their prices. CANNED CHERRIES Practically the entire United States pack of sweet cherries is canned in the western states, Only a small quantity of sweet cherries is canned in the states east of the Rocky Mountains. In New York, for example, only 2.6 per cent of the total cherry pack during the past five years has been sweet cherries. Almost all of the canned pack Canned Cherry Pack, Western States, Average 1925-1928 1,000 Per Per cent State cases cent 10 20 30 California Oregon 300 37.0 276 34.1 Washington 185 22.8 Idaho 29 3.5 Utah Total 21 2.6 811 100.0 Fig. 12. — Over 90 per cent of the United States canned pack of sweet cherries is canned on the Pacific Coast. Data from table 16. of the western states, with the exception of Utah, consists of sweet cherries. During the two years of 1924 and 1925, an average of 97 per cent of the total canned pack in Oregon, 90 per cent in Washing- ton, and 94 per cent in Idaho was sweet cherries, while in California all of the canned pack consists of sweet cherries. In Utah approxi- mately 45 per cent of the pack, on the average, is sour cherries and 55 per cent sweet cherries. Bul. 488] Cherries 27 Important Canning -Cherry -producing States. — The average packs of canned cherries in the five western cherry-producing states during the past four years are shown in figure 12. In California the pack has averaged around 300,000 cases a year. The average pack in Oregon has been almost as large as that in California, but in Washington it has been about 35 per cent smaller. The packs in both Idaho and Utah have been relatively small, averaging less than 30,000 cases. 12 Approximately 94 per cent of the total has been canned in the three Pacific Coast states. Trend of Canned Cherry Pack. — The changes in the pack of cherries on the Pacific Coast from 1919 to 1928 are shown in figure 13. Canned Cherry Pack, Pacific Coast, 1919-1928 1,000 «g cases 1,200 800 W CO o iH CO ■^ o> o> ■* CO en to 400 1 CANN ED PAC ' K "D V T REND -y »—— . J- — Fig. 13. — During the past ten years there has been an upward trend in the canned pack of cherries on the Pacific Coast. Data from table 16. During this period there was a gradual upward trend in the pack, rising from 693,000 cases in 1919 to 816,000 cases in 1928, an increase of 18 per cent. This increase was the result of a substantial expansion in both Oregon and Washington. In Oregon the trend rose from 104,000 cases in 1919 to 318,000 cases in 1928, an increase of 214,000 cases or 205 per cent. In Washington the increase amounted to 93,000 cases or 86 per cent of its 1919 pack. On the other hand, the trend in California declined from 521,000 cases in 1919 to 258,000 cases in 1928, a decrease of 51 per cent. 12 The figure for Utah includes only the pack of sweet cherries. 28 University of California — Experiment Station The Royal Ann is the principal variety of cherry used for canning. Royal Anns are also used in the manufacture of maraschino cherries and for fresh shipment. During the next few years it is expected that there will be an upward trend in the production of Royal Ann cherries. Unofficial estimates indicate that there are about 2,500 acres of nonbearing Royal Ann trees in the three Pacific Coast states at the present time. The changes in the canned cherry pack in California during the past twenty years are shown in figure 14. The smallest pack was in 1914, when only 115,155 cases were canned; the largest pack was in Canned Cherry Pack, California, 1909-1928 600 in io to a> o o iH CO to CO •H m c- iH 00 .H 200 CA NNE •D PACI < / \ / \ / \ f Ol O O r-l I- CO o> O r-l iH r-4 CM CT5 Oi 0> Oi Fig. 14. — During recent years there has been a downward trend in the canned cherry pack in California. Data from the Canners' League of California and the California Fruit News. 1920, when 647,977 cases were canned. From 1914 to 1920 there was a pronounced upward trend in the pack; during recent years there has been a decline. Wide Variations in Pack of Canned Cherries in California. — In the past decade the pack in California has varied widely from year to year. In. 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, and 1928, the pack was less than 300,000 cases, while in 1920, 1922, 1923, and 1926, it was over 500,000 cases. The chief reasons for these violent fluctuations were the changes in the total production in Royal Ann cherries and the changes in the prices paid to growers. The broken line in figure 15 represents the percentages of the total production of cherries in California, that were canned each year from Bud. 488] Cherries 29 1921 to 1928. Estimates of the production of Royal Ann cherries are not available. In most years, however, changes in the total production of cherries reflect fairly accurately the changes in the production of Royal Anns. The solid line represents the average prices paid by canners for No. 1 Royal Ann cherries. The close correspondence between the two curves indicates that growers tend to sell a larger proportion of their crops to canneries when the price of canning cherries is high than they do when it is low. This tendency is also shown by the fact that the sales of California fresh Royal Anns on the New York Auction Market have generally varied inversely with the canned pack in this state. Relation" Between the Price of California Canning Cherries and the Percentage of the Total California Cherry Crop Canned, 1921-1928 Cents "> CO Per cent co canned °^_ 12 PRIC E— ^ / / / / f / s v ^^ "^ / PER CENT CAN NED J ' **«" \ 120 80 40 Fig. 15. — The fluctuations from year to year in the size of the canned cherry pack in California have been caused, in part by changes in the prices paid for canning cherries. Data from tables 1, 16, and 17. Other factors, such as quality of the fruit and prices of Royal Anns for fresh shipment or for the manufacture of maraschino cherries, also have some influence in determining the amount canned. It appears, however, that in the past the size of the crop and the prices paid for canning cherries have exerted the dominant influence. If a high price for canning cherries coincides with a large crop, such as was the case in 1926, the pack of canned cherries may be larger than can be sold at the prices asked at the beginning of the season. In 1926 the canners' opening price on No. 2 1 /o choice Royal Ann cherries was $3.40 per dozen cans. It soon became evident that 30 University of California — Experiment Station the entire pack could not be sold at that price. By the first of January, 1927, price quotations had declined to $3.15 a dozen, and by the first of June to $2.90 a dozen. Because the price was too high at the beginning of the season and because canners had to sell on a declining price level, the fruit did not move readily into consumption. Con- sequently, a considerable part of the 1926 pack was carried over into the 1927 crop year. As a result, the price paid to growers for No. 1 Royal Ann cherries was only 8.5 cents a pound in 1927 as against 10 cents a pound in 1926, although the crop in 1927 was unusually short. These facts indicate that both growers and canners would benefit by a better adjustment of the canning price to the size of the total crop and to the proportion of it that is likely to be canned. Prices of Canning Royal Ann Cherries and Index of Retail Prices of Commodities Farmers Buy, 1910-1929 Cents Index o> 210 175 §140 35 1 <—H / / AS / / i i \ / \ \ index/ X t f J \ \ »x .-. \ m ^ * , ^ — / . 'S / f •> ^k. '/ ,»*o ^r-« "7^ — - CHERRY- PRICES 105 -ZjmZT,Z 70 12 10 • ! t fl> 4 « Fig. 16. — The higher prices of cherries during recent years as compared with the pre-war level have been largely offset by the increase in the index of prices of commodities farmers buy. Data from table 17. Prices Paid to Growers for Canning Cherries. — The average prices paid to California growers for Koyal Ann cherries for canning from 1910 to 1929 are shown by the solid line in figure 16. From 1910 to 1920 there was an upward trend in prices. The increase during the latter part of the period was particularly large. That large increase, however, was more than offset by the rise in the prices of commodities Bul. 488] Cherries 31 that farmers buy for use in living and production, which are represented by the broken line. It is recognized, of course, that the general index of prices of commodities that farmers throughout the United States buy, may not adequately represent the costs of producing cherries, but it is the best index available at the present time. During the past nine years the index of prices of commodities farmers buy has remained fairly stable. Prices of canning cherries, however, have fluctuated widely. In four of the nine years they were above the index while in the other five years they were below it. Since 1920 there has been no definite upward or downward trend in either the prices paid to growers or in the canners' opening prices. The demand for canned cherries has just about kept pace with the increase in the pack. As a result of the prospective future increase in the bearing capacity of the trees now planted, there will apparently be sufficient Royal Ann cherries to provide for any reasonable increase in demand that may develop during the next few years. Consequently, it is not expected that the future level of prices will be above that of recent years. There may, of course, be a downward trend in prices if the pack increases much faster than it has since 1919. Past experience TABLE 10 Exports op Canned Cherries from Pacific Coast by Customs Districts, 1922-1927 Calendar San Los Oregon Wash- Total year Francisco Angeles ington cases cases cases cases cases 1922 28,035 254 3,747 2,727 34,763 1923 22,087 22 233 949 23,291 1924 24,659 105 1,396 3,404 29,564 1925 24,737 98 125 288 25,248 1926 28,318 69 960 1,107 30,454 1927 27,753 124 164 575 28,616 Sources of data: U. S. Dept. Commerce. Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States, annual numbers. Pounds converted to cases on the basis of 45 pounds to the case. indicates that consumers will buy a relatively small quantity of canned cherries at high prices, but when the cherry pack is large it is difficult to sell all of it except at lower prices, especially when there are large quantities of low-priced competing fruits on the market. Exports of Canned Cherries. — Exports of canned sweet and sour cherries are not reported separately. Most of the canned sweet cherries, however, are exported directly from the Pacific Coast, and 32 University of California — Experiment Station practically all of the exports of canned cherries from the Pacific Coast consist of sweet cherries. Table 10 gives the number of cases of canned cherries exported from the four custom districts on the Pacific Coast during the calendar years 1922-1927. 13 The average annual exports from the Pacific Coast during those six years amounted to 28,656 cases. The average pack of canned cherries in the three Pacific Coast states during the same period amounted to 765,386 cases, The proportion of the pack exported averaged 3.7 per cent. It will be noted in table 10 that about 90 per cent of the total exports from the Pacific Coast go from San Francisco. The exports from San Francisco for the calendar years 1922-1928 are shown graphically in figure 17. Since 1923 there has been a gradual upward Exports of Canned Cherries from San Francisco Customs District, 1922-1928 to o Cases * 28 5 26 o 24 22 CANNED EX PORTS __-— - — — -J ' ~~t Calendar years Fig. 17. -There has been a gradual upward trend in the exports of canned cherries from San Francisco since 1923. Data for 1922-1927 from table 10, for 1928 from Wesley O. Ash, District Manager, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce at San Francisco. trend in exports, The average exports during the past three years have amounted to 28,036 cases as compared with 22,087 cases in 1923, and an average of 24,927 cases during the three years 1922-1924. Although exports have increased somewhat faster than the canned pack, they still constitute a very small percentage of it. is An average of 73 per cent of the total canned cherry exports from the United States were exported directly from the Pacific Coast. Buu488] Cherries 33 The principal foreign markets for canned cherries exported from San Francisco are given in table 11. It will be noted that the countries in the Orient are our most important markets. During the past four years these countries have taken 67 per cent of the canned cherries exported from San Francisco, while China alone has taken 23 per cent. The United Kingdom and Canada are less important markets for canned sweet cherries than either China, Java and Madura, or the Philippine Islands, TABLE 11 Exports of Canned Cherries from San Francisco Customs District by Countries of Destination, 1925-1928 Country 1925 1926 1927 1928 Average 1925-1928 China Java and Madura Philippine Islands British India Other Netherland East Indies British Malaya Hongkong French Indo-China Japan (including Chosen) Ceylon Siam Kwantung Canada United Kingdom Venezuela Colombia Peru Others Total cases 5,312 2,127 2,806 1,609 967 549 725 351 346 239 34 64 2,227 2,744 665 277 295 3,400 cases 5,668 3,216 1,624 1,074 3,239 535 415 1,014 493 202 965 290 2,007 2,346 871 297 320 3,742 cases 6,348 2,761 2,425 2,497 1,415 728 996 706 520 481 228 206 1,847 1,735 917 613 366 2,964 cases 8,115 3,142 3,317 1,887 1,414 1,146 623 381 738 637 166 657 3,047 2,262 462 509 291 3,021 cases 6,361 2,812 2,543 1,767 1,759 739 690 613 524 390 348 304 2,282 2,271 729 424 318 3,282 24,737 28,318 27,753 31,815 28,156 Source of data: From Wesley O. Ash, District Manager, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, U. S. Dept. Commerce at San Francisco. MARASCHINO CHERRIES The manufacture of maraschino cherries provides an important outlet for Royal Ann cherries produced in this country. The Royal Ann is the only variety that is treated with sulfur and brine, which is an intermediate stage in the preparation of maraschino cherries. Unfortunately data regarding the quantity of Royal Anns so used are not available for a period of years. Consequently, it is not possible to determine accurately whether the maraschino market is absorbing a larger or smaller quantity of our Royal Anns now than formerly. 34 University of California — Experiment Station According to the United States Tariff Commission, more than 5,000,000 pounds of Royal Ann cherries have been sulfured and brined annually in the three Pacific Coast states. 14 Domestic Royal Ann cherries used in the manufacture of maras- chino cherries meet with keen competition from foreign cherries in the markets of this country. Large quantities of cherries sulfured or in brine are imported. According to the United States Tariff Commis- sion, the cherries sulfured or in brine which are imported ' ' are of the same variety as the domestic Royal Ann cherries and are used for the same general purposes, i.e., in the manufacture of maraschino and glace cherries There is no substantial difference between the imported and domestic cherries in firmness of flesh, taste, or color." The available data, on the annual imports of cherries into the United States are given in table 12. The import statistics are not segregated in such a way that it is possible to determine exactly the TABLE 12 Imports of Cherries into the United States by Countries of Origin, 1923-1928 Calendar year Country of origin 1923* 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Italy 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 8,947 834 91 141 170 1,000 lbs. 14,458 458 105 62 198 1,000 lbs. 21,414 606 90 495 169 1,000 lbs. 14,533 2,027 71 133 494 1,000 lbs. Others Total 22,622 10,183 15,281 22,774 17,258 13,951 * This figure does not include re-exports as do the figures for subsequent years. Re-exports of cherries are negligible and may be disregarded. Sources of data: U. S. Dept. Commerce, Bur. Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States, annual numbers; except for 1928, which is from Monthly Summary of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the United States, monthly issues. total imports of cherries sulfured or in brine. From October, 1922, to January, 1927, imports of cherries sulfured or in brine that had been stemmed and pitted were included in the classification "maraschino and other prepared or preserved cherries (dutiable at 40 per cent ad valorem)," while imports of cherries sulfured or in brine that were unstemmed and unpitted were included in the classification "cherries in their natural state, sulfured, or in brine (dutiable at 2 cents per i* United States Tariff Commission Keport on cherries, sulfured or in brine, p. 5, 7. 1928. Bui* 488] CHERRIES 35 pound ). ,,1S Since February, 1927, all imports of cherries sulfured or in brine have been included in the latter classification. For the past two years, therefore, imports of maraschino and similarly prepared cherries have been separately reported. In 1928 they amounted to 618,000 pounds or 4.4 per cent of the total imports of 13,951,000 pounds. They are, therefore, relatively unimportant as compared with the imports of the other types of cherries. Although imports of cherries sulfured or in brine and fresh cherries are still reported together, it may safely be assumed that the bulk of them are sulfured or brined cherries. The United States Tariff Commission found from an analysis of consular invoices that only 2.8 per cent of the imports in 1926 consisted of fresh cherries. It would appear, therefore, that since the imports of both maraschino and similarly prepared cherries and fresh cherries are relatively small, the total imports given in table 12 may be used to represent the changes in the imports of cherries sulfured or in brine. It is apparent from table 12 that there has been no pronounced upward or downward trend in total imports during the six years 1923-1928. The fluctuations from year to year, however, have been considerable. The average annual imports for the six-year period amounted to 17,000,000 pounds. This amount constitutes about 75 per cent of the total quantity of cherries used in the manufacture of maraschino cherries in the United States. The origin of the United States imports of cherries during the four years 1924-1927 is also shown in table 12. It is readily seen that the bulk of our imports come from Italy. Most of the Italian exports to the United States consist of cherries sulfured or in brine. Only a small quantity of them consists of maraschino or similarly prepared cherries. On the other hand, a considerable proportion of the French exports of cherries to the United States are maraschinos and practi- cally all of our imports from Switzerland are of that type. Our imports from Canada consist almost entirely of fresh cherries of varieties other than Royal Anns. ITALIAN EXPORTS OF CHERRIES Estimates of cherry production in Italy are not available. The statistics of total Italian exports given in table 13, however, provide an index of Italian production of cherries suitable for foreign markets. It will be noted that the average 1910-1913 exports amounted to 15 In January, 1928, the duty on cherries coming under the latter classification was increased to 3 cents per pound. 36 University of California — Experiment Station 16,138,000 pounds as against an average of 38,590,000 pounds during the four years 1924-1927, an increase of 22,452,000 pounds or 139 per cent. Table 13 also gives the principal markets for Italian cherry exports during the four years of 1924-1927. The United States is the leading market for Italian cherries, taking on the average 45 per cent of the total exports. Germany is the next most important market, followed by Austria and Great Britain. TABLE 13 Exports of Cherries prom Italy by Countries of Destination, Average 1909-1913 and 1924-1927 ; Annual 1924-1927 Country of destination Average 1909-1913 Average 1924-1927 1924 1925 1926 1927 United States 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 17,299 8,215 4,702 3,316 2,010 1,250 1,798 1,000 lbs. 8,801 6,037 6,242 3,017 1,069 1,506 1,063 1,000 lbs. 20,621 6,138 3,815 2,643 2,853 1,233 1,367 1,000 lbs. 25,785 8,903 3,898 4,561 983 1,292 3,245 1,000 lbs. 13,988 Germany 11,780 Austria 4,853 Great Britain 3,045 3,135 Switzerland 968 Others 1,519 Total 16,138 38,590 27,735 38,670 48,667 39,288 Source of data: From Wesley O. Ash, District Manager, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, U. S. Dept. Commerce, San Francisco office. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors of this bulletin wish to express their thanks and indebtedness to the following organizations that have generously con- tributed from their data and their time : California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service ; Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States Department of Agriculture; Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- merce, United States Department of Commerce ; California Fruit Exchange ; California Farm Bureau Federation ; California Agricul- tural Legislative Committee; Canners' League of California; Califor- nia Packing Corporation ; Libby, McNeill, and Libby ; and Richmond- Chase and Company. Dr. S. W. Shear, Division of Agricultural Economics, University of California; L. R. Breithaupt, Oregon State College; M. D. Armstrong, Washington State College; and many farmers throughout this state have also furnished much valuable information. Bul, 488] Cherries 37 APPENDIX OF TABLES TABLE 14 New York Auction Sales of California Cherries by Varieties, 1921-1929 Year Black Tartarian Bing Royal Ann Black Repub- lican Early Chapman Others Total 1921 1,000 lbs. 1,150 1,000 lbs- 570 1,000 lbs. 1,190 1,000 lbs. 230 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,260 1,000 lbs. 4,400 1922 1,127 526 349 149 * 849 3,000 1923 1,506 653 486 289 * 1,214 4,148 1924 1,565 979 1,096 434 103 935 5,112 1925 1,139 639 532 338 173 1,012 3,833 1926 1,753 1,761 251 • 800 255 1,144 5,964 1927 1,631 795 1,531 336 93 772 5,158 1928 2,954 1,887 612 731 180 862 7,226 1929 1,975 1,333 296 631 146 681 5,061 * Early Chaprnans for 1921-1923 included in others. Source of data: Compiled from New York Daily Fruit Reporter. Boxes converted to pounds'on the basis of 8 pounds net, and lugs to pounds according to size designated. TABLE 15 Annual Average Prices of Important Varieties of California Cherries, New York Auction Market, 1921-1929 (Per box of 8 pounds net) Year Early Chapman Bing Black Tartarian Repub- lican Royal Ann dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars 1921 2.54 2.27 1.54 1.84 1922 2.57 2.15 2.06 2.02 1923 2.92 2.30 2.24 2.30 1924 3.84 2.73 2.16 1.86 1.96 1925 3.10 2.14 1.95 1.71 1.62 1926 2.29 2.29 2.02 2.03 2.04 1927 3.94 3.18 2.53 2.37 2.07 1928 3.30 2.25 1.80 1.84 1 64 1929 3.56 2.91 2.47 2.00 2 12 Source of data: Compiled from New York Daily Fruit Reporter. 38 University of California — Experiment Station TABLE 16 Canned Cheery Pack, Western States, 1919-1928 Pacific Coast states Idaho Year California Oregon Washington Total Utah 1919 1920 cases 460,614 647,977 222,772 557,591 590,685 215,114 222,816 526,520 170,909 280,126 cases 120,181 147,728 142,429 173,463 168,889 254,095 118,041 389,335 251,735 346,921 cases 107,177 175,735 51,670 154,320 188,225 121,028 108,078 280,163 101,309 249,987 cases 687,972 971,440 416,871 885,374 947,799 590,237 448,935 1,196,018 523,953 877,034 cases 23,694 30,398 17,684 29,813 42,341 5,509 31,445 39,492 6,100 37,133 cases 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 32,372 15,309 22,570 14,136 Sources of data: California from Canners League of California. Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, from Northwest Canners Association. Utah from Utah Canners Association, and includes only the pack of sweet cherries. TABLE 17 Average Prices per Pound Paid to Growers for Canning Royal Ann Cherries and Index of Retail Prices of Commodities Farmers Buy, 1910-1929 Year Prices paid to growers Index of prices of commodities farmers buy 1 2 cents 1910-1914=100 1910 5.0 98 1911 5.8 101 1912 4.9 100 1913 6.0 100 1914 6.8 101 1915 5.6 106 1916 6.8 123 1917 7.5 150 1918 8.6 178 1919 10.0 205 1920 11.2 206 1921 5.3 156 1922 10.4 152 1923 9.8 153 1924 5.9 154 1925 8.8 159 1926 9.5 156 1927 8.3 154 1928 7.9 156 1929 9.8 156 Sources of data: Col. 1. Compiled from prices paid by various canneries. Prices given in this series are representative of the average prices for the state. In general, prices in the coast district were slightly higher and prices in the other districts of the state were somewhat lower than those given in this series. Col. 2. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Agr. Econ., Index of prices paid by farmers for commodities used in living and production. STATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION BULLETINS No. 253. Irrigation and Soil Conditions in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, California. 263. Size Grades for Ripe Olives. 277. Sudan Grass. 279. Irrigation of Rice in California. 2 S3. The Olive Insects of California. 304. A Study of the Effects of Freezes on Citrus in California. 310. Plum Pollination. 313. Pruning Young Deciduous Fruit Trees. 331. Phylloxera-resistant stocks. 335. Cocoanut Meal as a Feed for Dairy Cows and Other Livestock. 343. Cheese Pests and Their Control. 344. Cold Storage as an Aid to the Market- ing of Plums, a Progress Report. 346. Almond Pollination. 347. The Control of Red Spiders in Decid- uous Orchards. 348. Pruning Young Olive Trees. 349. A Studv of Sidedraft and Tractor Hitches. 353. Bovine Infectious Abortion, and Asso- ciated Diseases of Cattle and New- born Calves. 354. Results of Rice Experiments in 1922. 357. A Self-Mixing Dusting Machine for Applying Dry Insecticides and Fun- gicides. 361. Preliminary Yield Tables for Second- Growth Redwood. 362. Dust and the Tractor Engine. 363. The Pruning of Citrus Trees in Cali- fornia. 364. Fungicidal Dusts for the Control of Bunt. 366. Turkish Tobacco Culture, Curing, and Marketing. 367. Methods of Harvesting and Irrigation in Relation to Moldy Walnuts. 368. Bacterial Decomposition of Olives During Pickling. 369. Comparison of Woods for Butter Boxes. 370. Factors Influencing the Development of Internal Browning of the Yellow Newtown Apple. 371. The Relative Cost of Yarding Small and Large Timber. 3 73. Pear Pollination. 374. A Survey of Orchard Practices in the Citrus Industry of Southern Cali- fornia. 380. Growth of Eucalyptus in California Plantations. 385. Pollination of the Sweet Cherry. 386. Pruning Bearing Deciduous Fruit Trees. 388. The Principles and Practice of Sun- Drying Fruit. 389. Berseem or Egyptian Clover. 390. Harvesting and Packing Grapes in California. 391. Machines for Coating Seed Wheat with Copper Carbonate Dust. 392. Fruit Juice Concentrates. 393. Crop Sequences at Davis. 394. I. Cereal Hay Production in California. II. Feeding Trials with Cereal Hays. 395. Bark Diseases of Citrus Trees in Cali- fornia. 396. The Mat Bean, Phaseolus Aconitifolius. 397. Manufacture of Roquefort Type Cheese from Goat's Milk. 400. The Utilization of Surplus Plums. 405. Citrus Culture in Central California. 406. Stationary Spray Plants in California. 407. Yield. Stand, and Volume Tables for White Fir in the California Pine Region. No. 408. 409. 410. 412. 415. 416. 418. 419. 420. 421. 423. 425. 426. 427. 428. 430. 431. 432. 433. 434. 435. 436. 438. 439. 440. 444,, 445. 446. 447. 448. 449. 450. 451. 452. 453. 454. Alternaria Rot of Lemons. The Digestibility of Certain Fruit By- products as Determined for Rumi- nants. Part I. Dried Orange Pulp and Raisin Pulp. Factors Influencing the Quality of Fresh Asparagus After it is Harvested. A Study of the Relative Value of Cer- tain Root Crops and Salmon Oil as Sources of Vitamin A for Poultry. Planting and Thinning Distances for Deciduous Fruit Trees. The Tractor on California Farms. Culture of the Oriental Persimmon in California. A Study of Various Rations for Fin- ishing Range Calves as Baby Beeves. Economic Asnects of the Cantaloupe Industry. Rice and Rice By-Products as Feeds for Fattening Swine. Beef Cattle Feeding Trials, 1921-24. Apricots (Series on California Crops and Prices). Apple Growing in California. Apple Pollination Studies in California. The Value of Orange Pulp for Milk Production. The Relation of Maturity of California Plums to Shipping and Dessert Quality. Range Grasses in California. Raisin By-Products and Bean Screen- ings as Feeds for Fattening Lambs. Some Economic Problems Involved in the Pooling of Fruit. Power Requirements of Electrically Driven Dairy Manufacturing Equip- ment. Investigations on the Use of Fruits in Ice Cream and Ices. The Problem of Securing Closer Rela- tionship between Agricultural Devel- opment and Irrigation Construction. I. The Kadota Fig. II. The Kadota Fig Products. Grafting Affinities with Special Refer- ence to Plums. The Digestibility of Certain Fruit By- Products as Determined for Rumi- nants. II. Dried Pineapple Pulp, Dried Lemon Pulp, and Dried Olive Pulp. The Feeding Value of Raisins and Dairy By-Products for Growing and Fattening Swine. Series on California Crops and Prices: Beans. Economic Aspects of the Apple In- dustry. The Asparagus Industry in California. A Method of Determining the Clean Weights of Individual Fleeces of Wool. Farmers' Purchase Agreement for Dee** Well Pumps. Economic Aspects of the Watermelon Industry. Irrigation Investigations with Field Crops at Davis, and at Delhi, Cali- fornia, 1909-1925. Studies Preliminary to the Establish- ment of a Series of Fertilizer Trials in a Bearing Citrus Grove. Economic Aspects of the Pear Industry. Series on California Crops and Prices: Almonds. Rice Experiments in Sacramento Val- ley, 1922-1927. BULLETINS — (Continued) No. 455. Reclamation of the Fresno Type of Black-Alkali Soil. Yield. Stand and Volume Tables for Red Fir in California. Factors Influencing Percentage Calf Crop in Range Herds. Economic Aspects of the Fresh Plum Industry. . 460. Series on California Crops and Prices: Lemons. . Series on California Crops and Prices: Economic Aspects of the Beef Cattle Industry. Prune Supply and Price Situation. Drainage in the Sacramento Valley Rice Fields. 456. 458. 459. 461, 462. 464. No. 465 466 Curly Top Symptoms of the Sugar Beet. The Continuous Can Washer for Dairy Plants. Oat Varieties in California. Sterilization of Dairy Utensils with Humidified Hot Air. The Solar Heater. Maturity Standards for Harvesting Bartlett Pears for Eastern Shipment. The Use of Sulfur Dioxide in Shipping Grapes. Factors Affecting the Cost of Tractor Logging in the California Pine Region. 475. Walnut Supply and Price Situation. 467 468 469. 470. 471. 474. CIRCULARS No. 115. Grafting Vinifera Vineyards. 117. The Selection and Cost of a Small Pumping Plant. 127. House Fumigation. 129. The Control of Citrus Insects. 164. Small Fruit Culture in California. 166. The County Farm Bureau. 178. The Packing of Apples in California. 203. Peat as a Manure Substitute. 212. Salvaging Rain-Damaeed Prunes 230. Testing Milk, Cream, and Skim Milk for Butterfat. 232. Harvesting and Handling California Cherries for Eastern Shipment. 239. Harvesting and Handling Apricots and Plums for Eastern Shipment. 240. Harvesting: and Handling: California Pears for Eastern Shipment. 241. Harvesting and Handling California Peaches for Eastern Shipment. 243. Marmalade Juice and Jelly Juice from Citrus Fruits. 244. Central Wire Bracing for Fruit Trees. 245. Vine Pruning Svstems. 248. Some Common Errors in Vine Pruning and Their Remedies. 249. Replacing Missin- Vines. 250. Measurement of Irrigation Water on the Farm. 253. Vineyard Plans. . 255. Leguminous Plants as Organic Ferti- lizers in California Agriculture. 257. The Small-Seeded Horse Bean (Vicia faba var. minor) 258. Thinning Deciduous Fruits. 259. Pear By-Products. 261. Sewing Grain Sacks. 262. Cabbage Production in California. 263. Tomato Production in California. 265 Plant Disease and Pest Control. 266. Analyzing the Citrus Orchard by Means of Simnle Tree Records. No. 269. An Orchard Brush Burner. 270. A Farm Septic Tank. 276. Home Canning. . 277. Head, Cane, and Cordon Pruning of Vines. „, ... 278. Olive Pickling in Mediterranean Countries. . ■ 279 The Preparation and Refining of Olive Oil in Southern Europe. 282. Prevention of Insect Attack on Stored Grain. 284. The Almond in California. 287. Potato Production in California. 288. Phylloxera Resistant Vineyards. 289. Oak Fungus in Orchard Trees. 290. The Tangier Pea. 292. Alkali Soils. 294. Propagation of Deciduous Fruits. _ 295. Growing Head Lettuce in California 296. Control of the California Ground Squirrel. 298. Possibilities and Limitations of Coop- erative Marketing. 300. Coccidiosis of Chickens. 301. Buckeye Poisoning of the Honey Bee. 302. The Sugar Beet in California. 304. Drainage on the Farm. 305. Liming the Soil. 307. American Foulbrood and Its Control. 308 Cantaloupe Production in California. 309* Fruit Tree and Orchard Judging. 310 The Operation of the Bacteriological Laboratory for Dairy Plants. 311 The Improvement of Quality m Figs. 312 Principles Governing the Choice. Oper- ation and Care of Small Irrigation Pumping Plants. _ 313. Fruit Juices and Fruit Juice Beverages. 314.' Termites and Termite Damage. 315. The Mediterranean and Other *ruit Flies. 13m-2,'30