The 2009 cherry export season in Japan did not live up to the Northwest industrys expectations because of a delay in implementing a systems approach program as an alternative to fumigating the cherries. The Japanese government had agreed to allow U.S. cherry imports under a systems approach, starting on June 12. Northwest shippers were eager to ship cherries without fumigating them with methyl bromide, as theyve had to do since the market opened more than 30 years ago. They were confident it would result in better quality cherries on the market. Jim Archer, manager of Northwest Fruit Exporters, said that […]