WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), have announced that Washington state’s sweet cherry growers are now eligible for federal Emergency Farm Loans up to $500,000. This financial assistance comes in the wake of a formal disaster declaration by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the 2023 cherry harvest season, offering a lifeline to an industry that has faced severe challenges due to extreme weather conditions.
The call for this declaration was initiated last month when Sen. Cantwell, spearheading the efforts of the Washington delegation, sent a letter to Secretary Vilsack, urging him to fast-track the disaster designation. “Last year, Washington’s cherry growers lost around half their crop to extreme weather. Now, as they prepare to kick off their new season, this disaster designation from the Secretary of Agriculture will help growers access federal assistance to keep this $1 billion industry going – and ensure Washington’s famously delicious sweet cherries make it into shopping carts,” expressed Sen. Cantwell regarding the dire situation faced by the growers and the significance of the federal support.
Echoing the sentiments, Sen. Murray highlighted the unique challenges of the 2023 season, marred by weather-driven losses, and expressed gratitude towards the Biden administration for its support to the state’s growers. “This disaster declaration will open up access to emergency loans to help sweet cherry growers get back on their feet,” she stated.
Rep. Schrier also underlined the hardships faced by the cherry growers, with losses surpassing 50 percent for some, due to no fault of their own. She emphasized the importance of the disaster declaration in aiding the recovery and preparation efforts for the upcoming growing season.
The 2023 season proved to be particularly challenging for sweet cherry growers in Central and Eastern Washington, with unusual weather patterns leading to a shorter season and significant economic losses. The state, renowned for its sweet cherries, saw many of its growers unable to harvest their crops, thus necessitating the disaster declaration to access low-interest emergency loans for bridging operations into the 2024 season.
