Tart cherry growers can restrict how many cherries go to market

The US Department of Agriculture is proposing rules that let tart cherry growers limit the supply of cherries sold commercially. This means growers can adjust how many cherries reach stores to match demand, which should help stabilize prices and increase their profits.

For decades, the US government has allowed certain agricultural industries to manage their own supply. This lets growers collectively decide how much of their crop can be sold, preventing gluts that drive down prices. It means that even if there's a bumper crop, not all of it will hit the market, protecting the income of individual farmers.