Michael Jameson of Morada Produce Discusses a Historic Season for California Cherries
A Season Marked by Extreme Heat and Low Volume
California’s 2025 cherry harvest saw a dramatic downturn, with statewide production down nearly 50% from the previous year. According to Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter”, much of the loss traces back to last summer’s scorching temperatures—persistent heat between 108 and 112 degrees severely damaged orchards in Kern County and beyond. In the Bakersfield area, many cherry trees produced so little fruit that growers didn’t harvest at all.
While cherry orchards in Northern California fared slightly better, the statewide volume still fell well short of expectations.
Michael Jameson: “This Was a Very Historic Year for Pricing”
In an interview with Nick Papagni, Michael Jameson of Morada Produce—an industry veteran with 37 years of experience—shared his perspective on the impact of the reduced crop.
“Originally, we thought it could be a 7 million carton crop,” Jameson said. “It actually turned out to be roughly around 4.8 million.”
By comparison:
- 2024: 9.5 million cartons
- 2023: 10.1 million cartons
- 2025: Only 4.8 million cartons
“This season changed dramatically,” Jameson emphasized. “We were working with virtually half a crop compared to recent years. That in itself was challenging for multiple reasons.”
Short Window, High Prices—Then Competition
California cherries typically have a short marketing window—mid-April to mid-May. Prices surged early in the season due to limited supply. But as Washington and Canadian cherry producers entered the market with higher volumes, retail prices began to fall.
Still, Jameson described the early-season prices as “historic,” especially in grocery stores, where the sharp drop in California’s supply led to notable markups.
Listen to the Full Interviews
Nick Papagni sat down with Michael Jameson for two in-depth interviews covering:
You can hear both conversations exclusively at AgNet West, where Jameson shares key insights on California’s specialty crop markets.
Reporter: Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter” | AgNet West