Cherry Varieties in New York State

Abstract

Red tart cherries in New York are almost all of one variety, Montmorency. About two-thirds are grown for freezing and the rest for canning. More than 75 per cent of the State's crop is harvested by machine. Mechanical harvesting has been facilitated by the use of ethephon to loosen the fruits. The cherry industry, however, has had setbacks by low prices, high labor costs, competition from other cherry growing areas, hurricanes just before harvest, killing spring frosts, and cold, rainy weather during bloom.